Mikel Arteta now urged to make one change to Arsenal lineup for Burnley trip

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Arsenal are set to visit Burnley tomorrow in what will be their first game since last week’s 6-0 victory over West Ham.

Mikel Arteta will want his side to continue their excellent form, which has seen them win their last four games in a row, and may have a few selection decisions to make.

His side were missing several players in their 6-0 victory over West Ham, but those who started coped very well with the task at hand, and some may argue that the manager should not change a winning team.

Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus were among the absentees at the London Stadium, but all could return tomorrow, and Tomiyasu is someone who could make his first start since November.

Arteta urged to start Tomiyasu over Jakub Kiwior at Burnley

Jakub Kiwior has started at left-back in the absence of Tomiyasu and Zinchenko, and after initially struggling, he delivered an excellent performance against Liverpool, and looked solid against West Ham.

However, journalist Art De Roche has now told the Arsenal Beat Podcast that Tomiyasu should come in for the Poland International if he is fit to face Burnley.

“The only change I would make is if Tomiyasu is fit, I would start him at left-back over Jakub Kiwior,” he stated.

“In the early stages of the West Ham game, Arsenal were really comfortable. The only times West Ham threatened was when Arsenal encouraged them, and that tended to come from Kiwior giving the ball away.

“If Tomiyasu is fit enough to start, that’s what I would do.”

Jakub Kiwior needs a run of games

Despite left-back not being his natural position, Kiwior should be given the nod against Burnley even if Tomiyasu is fit.

Tomiyasu has suffered from several injury issues this season, and should be eased back into action rather than being thrown straight in.

This is a game which Arsenal are expected to win, and Kiwior needs game time to develop and prove himself, following transfer rumours linking him with a summer exit.

Tomiyasu can ease himself back in off the bench and even start in Porto and against Newcastle next weekend, but given the poor form of the opposition, and Kiwior’s promising displays in the last two games, it may be a good chance for him to further build a consistent run of form ahead of a challenging few months for Arsenal.