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Ian Wright has told Premier League Productions on Sunday evening that Mikel Arteta needs to drop some of his underperforming players – and has named four Arsenal rookie stars he would like to see given a chance.
The Gunners suffered their fourth consecutive league defeat at The Emirates on Sunday, losing to Burnley after midfielder Granit Xhaka was sent off for placing his hands on the neck of Burnley captain Ashley Westwood.
Xhaka has come in for huge criticism since the incident, especially after Nicolas Pepe was shown a straight red card for headbutting Leeds United defender Gjanni Alioski. He has been struggling for form too this season.
Wright believes Arteta needs to shake up his team and thinks the likes of Xhaka, Willian and £182k-a-week (Spotrac) Alexandre Lacazette need dropping – and wants Eddie Nketiah, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Emile Smith-Rowe and Joe Willock to start.
“The manager has stuck with Xhaka for a while, put faith in him – the same with Willian and Lacazette,” Wright said. “There are players should be getting a blast now. Throw in Eddie Nketiah. Emile Smith-Rowe coming back from a loan at Huddersfield.
TBR’s view – Which players should come in against Southampton?
With Xhaka suspended, Maitland-Niles has got to start and finally given a chance in midfield. Being used at right-back, left-back and in other areas, Maitland-Niles desperately deserves to show why he is naturally a central midfielder.
Arsenal also lact creativity and alongside perhaps Mo Elneny and Maitland-Niles, Willock deserves to play after his Europa League form. Lacazette, even Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, are struggling for form and need to be taken out of the firing line.
So, Arsenal should field a new front three against the Saints. Nketiah should come in, Bukayo Saka must start, and perhaps Nicolas Pepe could come back in after serving a suspension. Certainly, something needs to change.
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