Arsenal entertain Hull City at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon looking to tighten their grip at the top of the Premier League table.
The Gunners moved three points clear of Manchester City with a vital 1-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield last weekend. With City not playing until later this evening, Arsenal can pile on the pressure and extend their lead to six points by beating Hull.
Mikel Arteta’s side maintained their excellent form in Europe, too, with a 2-1 victory away to Slavia Praha on Wednesday night thanks to goals from Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres.
The Gunners boss has rotated his squad today and made six changes for the visit of Hull to North London but David Raya is among those who keep their place as the Spaniard starts between the sticks once again.
There are changes in the full-back positions with Jurrien Timber replacing Ben White while Riccardo Calafiori comes in for Piero Hincapie. William Saliba was on the bench in midweek but isn’t involved today as he works his way back to injury so Ezri Konsa continues alongside Gabriel Magalhaes in the middle of Arsenal’s defence.
Martin Zubimendi made a rare start in midweek but he drops back to the bench today with Bruno Guimarães recalled to line-up alongside Declan Rice in the middle of the park.
Martin Odegaard was given a breather on Wednesday but he’s back to captain Arsenal today meaning Mikel Merino makes way. Noni Madueke keeps his place on the right wing in the continued absence of Bukayo Saka.
Christos Tzolis is recalled to replace Eberechi Eze on the left side of attack while Kai Havertz comes in to lead the line up front despite Gyokeres impressing in midweek.
Here are the confirmed line-ups for the game:
Arsenal
Raya, Timber, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori, Guimarães, Rice, Ødegaard, Madueke, Tzolis, Havertz
Subs: Arrizabalaga, White. Mosquera, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly, Zubimendi, Merino, Eze, Gyökeres.
Hull City
Tzolakis, Coyle, Ajayi, Egan, Mendy, Stroud, Slater, Iroegbunam, Gourna-Douath, McBurnie, Cho
Subs: Butland, Giles, Thomas, Gelhardt, Hjerto-Dahl, Norton-Cuffy, Herrington, Mouzakitis,…..