Mikel Arteta has decided against starting Mesut Ozil for Arsenal's away trip to Brighton in the Premier League. The World Cup-winner missed out on Arsenal's trip to Manchester City altogether but Mikel Arteta insisted he can get back into the starting side.
"I've been very open with Mesut from day one. Since I joined I think that he was fit and he was willing and he wanted to perform at the level that he can do. He's played every game with me [before City] so that's it," Arteta said in his pre-match press conference.
"The moment I see he is ready again to do that, I will treat him like anybody else. I've been more than fair with him and I think he has responded in many games the way I want and that's it.
Arteta's other big call sees Nicolas Pepe return to the starting lineup after not being used at the Etihad Stadium. The Ivorian will be looking to rise to the challenge to become more consistent by Arteta ahead of the game.
"It's clear that his consistency has not been at the level he can produce," Arteta said of Pepe. "He's the first to accept that. That's what I'm going to demand of a player of his level and calibre.
"He has to be producing every three days at the level that he can be. He has to be a player that can make the difference, that is a threat, that generates fear in the opponent and gives us a big threat in the final third. His work rate has to be related as well with that kind of performance."
As expected, Bernd Leno starts in goal having picked up where he left off before lockdown with an impressive performance at Manchester City. The German kept Arsenal in the game for large parts of the first half before being let down by individual errors in front of him.
Hector Bellerin keeps his place at right-back whereas Sead Kolasinac comes in for Kieran Tierney at left-back on his 27th birthday.
As expected by many, Shkdoran Mustafi will partner Rob Holding at centre-back. Problems mounted extremely quickly in the heart of the defence after Pablo Mari and David Luiz's respective injury and suspension and with Sokratis returning to training on Friday, this came too early for him.
There is some debate to what the shape of the midfield will be as Dani Ceballos and Matteo Guendozi are named alongside Nicolas Pepe and Bukayo Saka. Pepe and Saka could be used as wingers but there is the possibility of Saka lining up as a No.10. with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out to the left and Alexandre Lacazette up front. If not, however, it looks like it could be a 4-4-2 with Aubameyang and Lacazette leading the line.
Confirmed Arsenal XI: Leno; Bellerin, Mustafi, Holding, Kolasinac; Ceballos, Guendouzi, Saka, Pepe; Lacazette, Aubameyang
