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Art De Roche

Confirmed Arsenal XI vs Liverpool: Rob Holding and Bukayo Saka return as Aubameyang benched

Mikel Arteta has decided to name a rotated squad against Liverpool with Rob Holding returning to the starting lineup alongside David Luiz and Kieran Tierney in the back three.

Cedric Soares comes in at right wing-back with Bukayo Saka manning the left wing while Lucas Torreira makes his first start since football's return next to Granit Xhaka.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been benched, meaning Alexandre Lacazette captains the side through the middle, with Nicolas Pepe and Reiss Nelson either side of him.

Joining Aubameyang on the bench are Matt Macey, Shkodran Mustafi, Sokratis, Sead Kolasinac, Hector Bellerin, Joe Willock, Ainsley Mainland-Niles and Dani Ceballos.

Arsenal v Liverpool Premier League match preview

A positive performance will be as important as a positive result for Arsenal tonight as Arteta will be looking to regain momentum ahead of Saturday's FA Cup semi-final.

While focus may slightly edge towards the weekend's meeting with Manchester City, recovering in the Premier League will be imperative.

CAS' decision to overturn City's two-year ban from European club competitions ended the Gunners' hopes of Champions League qualification, meaning they will fight with Wolves, Sheffield United and Tottenham Hotspur for a place in next year's Europa League.

Five points behind sixth placed Wolves with three games to play, there is no room for error for Arteta, who admitted he feels Arsenal hold the same weight when attracting players as they did when they were in the Champions League.

“While I’m sitting in this chair, no [people won't stop looking at Arsenal as a Champions League club], because that’s the only seat where I see this football club," he said.

"Because it’s got an incredible history, an incredible structure in a beautiful city and a style of play that attracts players. I am telling you now, because when I’m closer to the market and I speak to people, a lot of players want to play for Arsenal still."

Ahead of facing Liverpool, comparisons have been made between the job Arteta is undertaking and the project Jurgen Klopp began with Liverpool in 2015.

Taking over a Europa League side, the German gradually improved his squad, navigating the market in an extremely clever fashion.

Whether it was signing Andrew Robertson and Gini Wijnaldum from relegated Hull City and Newcastle or Allison and Mo Salah from Roma, their was a purpose behind each move, and this is what the Spaniard is looking to replicate at Arsenal.

"It is a good mixture [of players from relegated and big clubs] because as well they bought players from Monaco, they bought players from Italy," Arteta added.

"You need players that have the experience in the Premier League and they’ve done it here, so in terms of adaption the process it is much quicker. But as well they bought players with European experience, playing in big national teams with big responsibilities - and, don’t forget, for a big amount of money as well."

Confirmed Arsenal XI: Martinez; Holding, David Luiz, Tierney; Cedric, Torreira, Xhaka, Saka, Pepe, Lacazette, Nelson

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