Mikel Arteta has decided to name an unchanged Premier League side for the first time in his reign after defeating Manchester United on New Years' Day.
Despite missing the Leeds United victory in the FA Cup, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is back in the side and joins Mesut Ozil, Nicolas Pepe and Alexandre Lacazette in the front four.
They will be supported by Lucas Torreira and Granit Xhaka who have performed extremely well since Arteta's arrival.
Xhaka in particular has improved well and become a key component of Arteta's Arsenal. The Swiss has started moving the ball more quickly in midfield to help Arsenal in attack and is covering ground a lot better than he did under Unai Emery.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles has also excelled under Mikel Arteta as an inverted full-back and will keep his place in the side next to Sokratis, David Luiz and Sead Kolasinac.
Bernd Leno is of course starting in goal for the Gunners.
The one absentee that has shocked fans, however, is Dani Ceballos. The Spaniard is yet to fully return from injury but was on the bench vs Leeds and many people believed he could be key under Arteta.
The midfielder - who hasn't picked up another injury - has been left off the bench, however, which has confused Arsenal fans.
“Now he is getting much closer to the fitness levels that I expect from him to be competing with his team-mates," Arteta said when asked about Ceballos earlier in the week.
"Obviously he had a long-term injury, he had an adaptation to this league. I know him really well from Spain. I watched him many many times. He is a player that can fit our style and now he needs to make a step forwards and make things difficult for me and my selection. Now he is ready to step in.”
“I like him more when he’s closer to the box rather than always coming deep to receive the ball. Defensively he can play in a two rather than a No.10. I don’t really see him as an isolating No.10 playing with two holding midfielders.
"He’s a very creative player, a player who in the final third can cause problems. He always wants the ball, he has big personality to play. I like him.”
