Hector Bellerin is expected to start while Nicolas Pepe and Mesut Ozil are in line to return to the lineup when Arsenal play Everton in the Premier League.
Arsenal will be aiming to continue their unbeaten run in 2020 when they play hosts to Everton at the Emirates Stadium in matchweek 27 of the Premier League on Sunday evening. Since the turn of the year, the Gunners have gone nine games without a defeat in all competitions.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, ahead of his return to his former club Everton, was asked what has been the most pleasing aspect during this unbeaten run, to which he replied, “Honestly, that we feel as a staff that the players are willing and are behind us and that they want to follow us.”
“We tried to convince them and I think they are convinced of what we are trying to do and they are doing everything they can to always try to execute what we do with them and the energy with which we are living together is good. So I’m happy.”
Positive news on @LTorreira34! ?
? Read our full team update ahead of #ARSEVE ?
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 22, 2020
Heading into the Everton game, Arteta has been handed a fresh injury concern. Defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos picked up a knee injury in the Gunners’ midweek game against Olympiacos in the UEFA Europa League and is likely to miss out on Sunday.
There is some good news as well with Hector Bellerin returning to training after sitting out against Olympiacos due to a groin issue. Lucas Torreira has also recovered from his illness that caused him to miss the midweek clash, while Mesut Ozil is also available for selection again. Calum Chambers, Kieran Tierney and Cedric Soares, meanwhile, remain sidelined.
There are unlikely to be a host of changes to the lineup that took the field against Olympiacos. The reliable figure of Bernd Leno should continue to man the goal for Arsenal while Shkodran Mustafi and David Luiz will continue at the heart of the defence in search of a fourth consecutive clean sheet.
The fit-again Bellerin is expected to walk into the side at right-back, whereas in-form youngster Bukayo Saka is set to continue at left-back ahead of Sead Kolasinac.
Dani Ceballos is expected to come back into the side after starting the last game on the bench. The Spaniard has shown glimpses of his quality in the last two games and will want to build on that. He will be partnered with Granit Xhaka in the midfield double pivot for Arsenal. Ozil should also return to the side, replacing Joe Willock in the No. 10 slot.
The attacking department will also see one tweak as Nicolas Pepe, who scored a goal and assisted two more in Arsenal’s last Premier League game against Newcastle United, is in line to return. Pepe should replace Gabriel Martinelli on the right flank, while captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ought to continue on the left flank against Everton.
Spearheading the attack for Arsenal against Everton should once again be Alexandre Lacazette, who seems to have found his goal-scoring touch after a barren spell.
Arsenal Predicted Lineup: Leno; Bellerin, Mustafi, Luiz, Saka; Ceballos, Xhaka; Pepe, Ozil, Aubameyang; Lacazette
