Mikel Arteta has made two significant changes to Arsenal lineup against Aston Villa, with Bernd Leno and Emile Smith Rowe coming in for Aaron Ramsdale and Gabriel Martinelli.
Mikel Arteta has named a strong lineup to face Aston Villa, with the Arsenal boss making two changes to the team that played versus Liverpool on Wednesday. The most significant and surprising change is Bernd Leno coming in for Aaron Ramsdale, with the English international not featuring in the squad.
Gabriel Martinelli is also an absentee from the matchday squad, with Emile Smith Rowe taking his place in the lineup. Other than that, the team remains intact, with Takehiro Tomiyasu still missing from Arsenal’s squad. For Leno, this will be his first Premier League start since August.
? Team news from Villa Park…
? Leno starts in goal
? Smith Rowe in for Martinelli
?? Laca leads the line#AVLARS— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 19, 2022
The German will have Cedric Soares, Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes and Kieran Tierney in front of him in the Arsenal defence. In the anchor role, Thomas Partey will hold the defensive midfield charge, while Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard will take up the no. 8 slots behind the front three.
Bukayo Saka continues on the right side of the Arsenal attack, with Nicolas Pepe his replacement option on the bench if needed. Smith Rowe comes in for Martinelli, while Alexandre Lacazette continues to lead the line for Arsenal against Aston Villa, wearing the captain’s armband once more.
Arsenal Starting Lineup: Leno, Cedric, White, Gabriel, Tierney, Odegaard, Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Lacazette, Smith Rowe
