Arsenal predicted XI tonight: Mikel Arteta drops £25m man as 21-year-old and 20-year-old come in

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It’s proving a rollercoaster of an extended season for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, who have experienced the best of times and the worst of times in the last five weeks.

A hammering by Manchester City in the league which included a David Luiz horror show; a dismal loss to Brighton which may just have sealed Matteo Guendouzi’s Gunners fate; and arguably worst of all, defeat to bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby.

Those are all pretty low points, but then consider the high points – the four-match winning run in all competitions; the triumph over new Premier League champions Liverpool; and progress to the FA Cup final as Arsenal got their revenge on Pep Guardiola’s side in the last four.

Up next for the Gunners is Tuesday’s trip to Aston Villa, a tricky fixture against a side battling for their future in the top flight, and they will not make it easy for Arteta’s resurgent men.

In terms of predicted team news and tactics, 3-4-3 has proven to be a superb formation for Arsenal so there’s no reason why Arteta would tweak this, while in goal, Emiliano Martinez has barely put a foot wrong and is all-but set for another start.

With Shkodran Mustafi sidelined, Rob Holding is likely to come in, while David Luiz’s continued superb form should see him in the middle once again, and although Kieran Tierney has been great on the left, Arteta could choose to rest the £25million ace and reinstate Sead Kolasinac.

On the flanks, Cedric Soares is likely to come in on the right after being cup-tied against the Citizens, and given Arsenal are likely to have the bulk of possession, Bukayo Saka on the other side with licence to roam forward and cause the Villa defence trouble seems the logical step.

While Granit Xhaka and Dani Ceballos have shown to be a formidable central midfield pairing, the latter could well be given a breather, with Lucas Torreira coming in for the Spaniard.

Up front, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could keep his place as the veteran of a three-man attack which should see Eddie Nketiah, 21, back after his ban and Reiss Nelson, 20, reinstated after impressing against Liverpool and missing out against Man City.

Arsenal predicted XI against Villa (3-4-3): Martinez; Holding, Luiz, Kolasinac; Cedric, Torreira, Xhaka, Saka; Nelson, Nketiah, Aubameyang