‘Should be given Saturday’s game’: Watts thinks Arteta will name player with 7 PL starts in Arsenal XI today

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Charles Watts has backed Nuno Tavares to start for Arsenal in Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Brighton.

The Goal.com correspondent looked at what Mikel Arteta could do in absence of Kieran Tierney and Thomas Partey.

Tierney has undergone surgery for a knee injury and Partey is nursing a “significant” thigh complaint.

Both could potentially be out for the remainder of Arsenal’s season.

Tavares started at left-back for Arsenal against Crystal Palace on Monday night.

However, Arteta ended up taking him off at half time, with Granit Xhaka going on to fill at left-back.

It was the £7million man’s first start since Nottingham Forest in January, when Arteta hauled him off after 35 minutes.

Arteta gave Tavares a vote of confidence ahead of the Seagulls clash, saying “he’s ready and he’s willing” to start.

On Goal.com, Watts looked at several ways Arteta could address Tierney’s absence.

The most straightforward action is a like-for-like swap in which Tavares replaces the Scot at left-back.

Other options include using Cedric Soares, Granit Xhaka or Bukayo Saka at left-back, or switching to a back three.

“By far the least destructive option”

Watts’ verdict saw him predict that Arteta would go for Tavares at left-back.

Nuno Tavares was brought in to be Tierney’s understudy, so he should be the man to replace the Scotland international,” he wrote.

“He may be out of form, but he should be given Saturday’s game against Brighton at least to try and get back to the sort of level he produced during the opening months of the season when he really caught the eye at left-back.

“Sticking with Tavares would be by far the least disruptive option for Arteta and it would allow him to switch Xhaka into the deeper midfield role to cover for the absence of Partey and play Lokonga slightly in front of the Switzerland international.

“Employing a back three could potentially work. But changing formations at this stage of the season is far from ideal and could do more harm than good.

“And the other options would cause too much upheaval in terms of moving players out of their natural positions.

“Tavares was signed to ensure Arsenal had natural cover for Tierney. So now is the time to put some trust in him.”

Tavares has made just seven Premier League starts this season. However, it looks as though he’ll be adding to his tally in the next few weeks.