Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has made four changes to the side that started against Chelsea this past weekend for the home game against Manchester United.

Arsenal have been boosted by the return of Granit Xhaka for their New Year’s Day clash against arch rivals Manchester United at the Emirates. The Switzerland international, who has been in fine form of late, missed the Chelsea game due to illness, but is back in the starting XI. Xhaka replaces Matteo Guendouzi in the Arsenal midfield.

That is one of the four changes that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has made in his third match in charge. The Spaniard has recalled defensive duo Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Sead Kolasinac to the lineup after the duo made quick recoveries from their respective injuries. The injured Calum Chambers and Bukayo Saka make way.

The final change to the Arsenal lineup comes in attack, where club record signing Nicolas Pepe makes his first start under Arteta. The Ivorian replaces Reiss Nelson in starting XI, joining forces with Mesut Ozil, Alexandre Lacazette and captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the Arsenal attack.

Rob Holding and Dani Ceballos are back in the matchday squad having returned to full fitness over the last week. There is no place among the substitutes for Gabriel Martinelli, however.

Arsenal Confirmed XI: Leno; Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasinac; Torreira, Xhaka; Pepe, Ozil, Aubameyang; Lacazette

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