Arsenal take on Burnley at Turf Moor in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
The Gunners are four points clear at the summit of the English top flight after nine matches, and they’ll have an opportunity to extend this lead when they play the Clarets.
Mikel Arteta’s side cruised past Brighton in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night, in a game which saw the Spaniard give a number of crucial players some much-needed rest.
This should mean that Arsenal are fresh for the clash with Scott Parker’s team, who have claimed some positive results in recent weeks, but who still have the worst underlying metrics in the league.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Burnley
Arteta will once again be without Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, all of whom are recovering from various injury issues.
The Spanish manager did offer an encouraging update on each of them on Friday morning, although Saturday’s game against Burnley comes far too early for all four.
Meanwhile, Arteta provided an update on William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli’s fitness status in his pre-match press conference. The tactician revealed that the Frenchman is a doubt, while the Brazilian won’t be available.
Saliba’s possible absence will prompt Arteta’s most contentious call on the day. Cristhian Mosquera has been excellent whenever he’s had to fill in for the 24-year-old, although the divisive coach will always try to play his best players when he can.
Ultimately, he should err on the side of caution and start Mosquera in Lancashire. The rest of the back four should remain the same as it has for most of the season, with Jurrien Timber, Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori all starting.
Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice will likely come back into the midfield after they were both rested in midweek, while Eberechi Eze will probably retain his place as the right eight.
As for the front three, Arteta has little to no choice. With Havertz, Madueke and Martinelli all out, and Eze in midfield, Leandro Trossard will accompany Bukayo Saka and Viktor Gyokeres.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Burnley: Raya, Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Eze, Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard.
Burnley team news ahead of Arsenal clash
Parker has been somewhat fortunate with injuries so far this season.
The Clarets’ squad has come through the early part of the campaign relatively unscathed, and they currently only have three fitness issues to contend with.
Zeki Amdouni is out until April after sustaining an ACL tear in the summer. Meanwhile, full-back Conor Roberts won’t be available until January as he continues to recover from a knee problem.
Jordan Beyer is the only other Burnley player likely to miss the Arsenal encounter, as the German fights his way back from a thigh problem.
The newly promoted side will be looking to win their third consecutive game for the first time this season when they entertain the Gunners.
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