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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta could put Alexandre Lacazette out of his starting lineup for Community Shield’s clash with Liverpool today (4.30pm) even though he scored one and helped the other when these teams met for last time a month ago. Eddie Nketiah started on the Frenchman in the midweek friendly at MK Dons and is likely to do so again at Wembley in the Gunners opening act.
The FA Cup winners are looking to claim another scalp against the Premier League champions, having beaten them 2-1 at the Emirates in the English top flight in July.
And Arteta could deliver competitive debuts from start to summer signing Willian and newcomer William Saliba, who have joined the Arsenal squad after a season on loan at Saint-Etienne, agreed as part of the £ 27 million deal to sign him a year ago. .
Saliba is likely to start on the right side of all three defenders, just as he did against League One MK Dons in a 4-1 preseason win at Milton Keynes on Tuesday night.
David Luiz could start over with Rob Holding in the middle of the media trio, although he didn’t play earlier this week.
Left-back Kieran Tierney could complete the three-front backline, allowing Bukayo Saka to start in a left-back role as Arsenal look to upset Liverpool youngster Neco Williams, who will likely start over Trent Alexander-Arnold in the right. back due to injury.
On the right side, Cedric Soares could be chosen over Hector Bellerin, who cannot be called up for such a tough test against Sadio Mane, who scored in the last match.
In goal, Bernd Leno, back in shape, should be chosen over Emiliano Martínez despite the Argentine’s recent return to training, after having spent two weeks in quarantine after the holidays.
Later in midfield, with unsuccessful attempts to re-sign Dani Ceballos on loan from Real Madrid, Granit Xhaka should be paired with Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Mohamed Elneny is another option, but Maitland-Niles could provide more cuts and oomph than the Egyptian against players like Naby Keita and Gini Wijnaldum. Joe Willock is another option to play alongside Xhaka.
Nketiah could then lead a three-man attack in favor of Lacazette, which will see captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang start from the left.
The Gabonese international scored four goals in two matches here in the FA Cup semi-final and in final triumphs over Manchester City and Chelsea and will be eager to start the new season in a similar fashion.
The Gunners could line up with the new Willian on the right flank, allowing Nicolas Pepe a break after only Willock, Aubameyang and Luiz made more appearances than him last season.
Arteta spoke enthusiastically of Willian at his pre-match press conference on Thursday, after being told that the Brazilian winger had joined the club to try and win the Champions League in the next three years.
“Well it’s the right spirit! I want players who are optimistic and willing and who want to win for our club,” he said.
“That is the feeling I had from the first day I met Willian: he is not satisfied with what he has done in his career, which is a lot.
“And it will bring some special qualities to our team, and the kind of attitude and mindset that you just mentioned in your question.”
Asked if the former Chelsea striker would start today, he added: “I don’t know. We will make the decision tomorrow. [yesterday] about who is going to play and who is going to participate.
“But they are sure to see our signings playing a lot of minutes this season.”
Arteta also admitted that Arsenal’s preparations for the clash against Jurgen Klopp’s team have not been ideal.
“TThe players seem to be in good mental and physical condition so we are ready to play, “he said.” We have no choice, we have a drink to play on Saturday.
“We’ve had two training sessions so you can imagine this game coming in the middle of our mini preseason, but we haven’t had much time to lose condition.
“It is not an ideal time to play this final but the players are motivated, it is another opportunity to win a trophy and we will do it.”
After taking on Liverpool, Arsenal will have two weeks to go before they start their Premier League campaign in newly promoted Fulham on Saturday 12 September (start at 12.30pm).
Prediction Arsenal XI vs Liverpool – Community Shield
(3-4-3): Leno; Saliba, Luiz, Tierney; Cedric, Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Saka; Willian, Nketiah, Aubameyang.
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