Sead Kolasinac starts at left-back while Alexandre Lacazette has been relegated to the bench again as Arsenal get set to take on Manchester City at the Emirates.
Freddie Ljungberg has made just a couple of alterations to the side that beat West Ham United in Arsenal’s last Premier League game on Monday as they prepare to lock horns with Manchester City.
Both the changes are forced, with Kieran Tierney and Granit Xhaka unavailable due to their respective fitness issues. Tierney is a long-term absentee due to a shoulder injury and has been replaced by Sead Kolasinac in the back four. Kolasinac is accompanied by Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Calum Chambers and Sokratis in Arsenal’s backline, with Bernd Leno taking his place in goal.
? Two changes from Monday night ?
➡️ @seadk6 & @MatteoGuendouzi
⬅️ @kierantierney1 & Granit Xhaka#ARSMCI— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 15, 2019
The second injury-enforced change from Monday’s encounter comes in midfield, with Xhaka being replaced Matteo Guendouzi, who has Lucas Torreira as his partner in the double pivot. The good news, meanwhile, is that Nicolas Pepe is fit to start for Arsenal.
Pepe’s inclusion in the starting lineup means there is no place for Alexandre Lacazette, who finds a place on the bench once again. In Lacazette’s stead, Gabriel Martinelli starts on the left side of the Arsenal attack, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leading the line against Manchester City, while Mesut Ozil reprises the no. 10 role.
Arsenal Starting XI: Leno; Maitland-Niles, Chambers, Sokratis, Kolasinac; Guendouzi, Torreira; Pepe, Ozil, Martinelli; Aubameyang