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Tashan Deniran-Alleyne & Kaya Kaynak & Tom Canton & Bailey Keogh

Arsenal lineups vs Everton: Saka dropped, new role for Xhaka, Sambi Lokonga returns

Tom Canton - Arsenal Fan Brands Writer

It is very difficult to pick a team with so little understanding of who is and who is not going to be available. Going on the basis that all of Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes will not be available, the back four is an interesting process to build.

However, I think that with this in mind, it might be smart to switch things up a bit and move to a back three. Cedric is operating in a right-sided centre-half role similar to how Cesar Azpilicueta plays for Chelsea. Rob Holding is playing centrally, and Granit Xhaka is on the left. With little choice, it leaves Mikel Arteta much wiggle room.

Then Sambi Lokonga comes into the midfield two with Mohamed Elneny and Bukayo Saka and Nuno Tavares take up the wing-back spots. Finally making up the forward three is Gabriel Martinelli, Eddie Nketiah and Martin Odegaard.

READ MORE: Mikel Arteta drops major hint on Arsenal transfer plans with clear message to Stan Kroenke

It seems there is little more available to Arteta, but having as much control of the game as possible will be the best chance of a win. Importantly not conceding is Arsenal's primary goal. Having just come from behind once against Wolves this season, a goal can almost be a sentence of defeat for the Gunners, it seems.

I just hope the boys can get the job done. Whilst I expect little from Norwich, there is something of a psychological hope that a repeat of 2006 materialises. Who knows what will happen? Football is capable of some special things.

Canton's Arsenal XI vs Everton - Ramsdale; Cedric; Holding; Xhaka; Saka; Elneny; Lokonga; Tavares; Odegaard; Nketiah; Martinelli.

Bailey Keogh - Arsenal Fan Brands Writer

With a top-four finish now looking a far-fetch in the last game of the season, Mikel Arteta should look to rotate his squad against Everton on Sunday.

The defence needs a shake-up due to the injuries suffered to Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes, So Rob Holding should return to the heart of the defence alongside Granit Xhaka. Due to Takehiro Tomiyasu's likely absence, Cedric Soares should start at right-back with Nuno Tavares on the left-hand side.

With Xhaka at centre-back, Albert Sambi Lokonga should pivot alongside Mohammed Elneny. Bukayo Saka deserves his long-needed rest, but Emile Smith Rowe's absence from training will require him to start. Gabriel Martinelli will take the Englishman's place on the left-hand side.

Finally, Eddie Nketiah should lead the forward line in what could be his final game in an Arsenal shirt. Arteta should opt for a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Keogh’s Arsenal XI vs Everton: Ramsdale, Cedric, Holding, Xhaka, Tavares; Sambi Lokonga, Elneny; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Nketiah

Tashan Deniran-Alleyne - Arsenal Writer

Whilst Arsenal need a miracle to qualify for the Champions League, they must take care of business against Everton so that they are in a position to capitalise if (and it's a big if) Norwich City beats Tottenham Hotspur.

As a result, Mikel Arteta needs to name the strongest team at his disposal. With Takehiro Tomiyasu limping off at Newcastle United, I don't expect to him feature, meaning a recall for Cedric Soares at right-back and Nuno Tavares continuing on the opposite flank.

The return of Rob Holding from suspension eases the central defensive crisis as he will most likely resume his partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes, given the Brazilian was spotted in training on Friday and Benjamin White wasn't, which is no surprise after his excursions at St James' Park.

Once again, the midfield three picks itself as I don't see Arteta taking any risks with Thomas Partey. But I can see the Spaniard naming Bukayo Saka on the bench after admitting that the winger is in need of a break so Gabriel Martinelli could get the nod on the right-hand side of a front three alongside Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe.

Deniran-Alleyne's Arsenal XI vs Everton: Ramsdale; Cedric, Holding, Gabriel, Tavares; Odegaard, Elneny, Xhaka; Martinelli, Nketiah, Smith Rowe

Kaya Kaynak - Arsenal writer

For the final game of the season, I feel as though Mikel Arteta should go as strong as possible, but with so many injuries to contend with at the minutes, there's a big question over what that really means.

The injuries to Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel during the Newcastle game seemed the most severe, so I would pick Ben White, even if he's not fully fit. He's probably the best-placed defender to deal with Richarlison, and with Rob Holding returning to the back four, there will be a stable enough defender alongside him to cope with the attacking threat Everton possesses.

For me, the big issue at Newcastle was Arsenal's passivity in midfield caused in part by the conservative passing of Mohamed Elneny. As a result, I'd bring in the more progressive Albert Sambi Lokonga to the base of the midfield behind Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard.

Upfront, I wouldn't look to have Gabriel Martinelli in the lineup just as a more direct approach. Seamus Coleman is a player he could have a field day against, and with Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah supporting him, it would be an exciting Arsenal front line.

Kaynak's Arsenal XI vs Everton - Ramsdale; Cedric, White, Holding, Tavares; Sambi Lokonga, Xhaka, Odegaard; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli.

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