Arsenal predicted XI vs Dundalk: Mikel Arteta’s possible line-up with four academy graduates set to start

Arsenal travel to Ireland to take on Dundalk in the Europa League having already secured their place in the knockout stage with five wins from their five matches.  

The Gunners have cruised through Group B, scoring 16 times and conceding just three which included a 3-0 win in the reverse fixture.

However, things have not been quite as rosy in the Premier League of late with Mikel Arteta’s side winless in four matches.

A third defeat in the last four against North London rivals Tottenham last time out means Arsenal have suffered their worst start to a league season in 39 years.

Arsenal are suffering a tough time at the moment.

The Europa League has presented a much needed winning feeling of late and has given fringe players the opportunity to impress.

So with a big game against Burnley to come on Sunday, Arteta is expected to stick with his squad rotation system in this competition.

But which players will the Spaniard task with trying to maintain his side’s 100% record in Europe this season?

Here we predict the Arsenal starting XI to take on Dundalk…

Goalkeeper:

Bernd Leno is Arsenal’s undisputed first-choice stopper but Runar Alex Runarsson has played in three of the Europa League matches to date and will get another chance to impress in Ireland. The Iceland international – signed from Dijon in September – has conceded just once in his three appearances for the Gunners to date.

Defenders:

Another player who has benefitted from Europa League action is Cedric Soares. The ex-Southampton full-back is expected to maintain his 100% appearance rate in this competition at the expense of Hector Bellerin. At centre-back, Pablo Mari made his first appearance of the season last week – scoring in the win against Rapid Vienna – so will start, while Shkodran Mustafi could slot in for his seventh appearance of the campaign. On the left side, Saed Kolasinac has played four of five matches so far in the Europa League so should continue in that role.

Midfielders:

Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka patrolled the midfield against Spurs but with the former going off injured and the latter expected to be held back for Burnley, Mohamed Elneny is expected to make his 13th appearance of the season alongside the versatile Ainsley Maitland-Niles. Fellow academy graduate Joe Willock, who has scored twice so far in the group stage, could then be handed more of a free role having

Forwards:

Despite being out of form in recent weeks, star forwards Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Willian are all expected to be rested after their efforts in the North London derby. Bukuyo Saka, who can also play in an advanced role, is also set to be a substitute in Ireland. This means Nicolas Pepe, who is serving a Premier League suspension, will go in search of his fourth Europa League goal of the season. Partnering the club-record buy in attack should be academy graduates Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah.

Predicted Arsenal XI vs Dundalk: Runarsson; Cedric, Mustafi, Mari, Kolasinac; Elneny, Maitland-Niles, Willock; Pepe, Nelson; Nketiah.