Arsenal’s Predicted XI: We predict Mikel Arteta’s starting XI as the Gunners face Manchester City in the FA Cup semi finals

Arsenal’s Predicted XI: We predict Mikel Arteta’s starting XI as the Gunners face Manchester City in the FA Cup semi finals.

After a shaky start since football returned, Arsenal have lost just one of their last seven matches and in their last game came out on top against Premier League champions Liverpool.

However, with their opponents being Manchester City, today’s game is a tough ask against an opponent they have not beaten since 2017 in this very competition.

Gunners boss Arteta used to be assistant manager at the Citizens under Pep Guardiola so will know all about tonight’s opponents and the dangers they posses.

But one thing on Arsenal’s side is their recent success in the FA Cup having lifted the trophy in 2013, 2014 and 2017 at Wembley Stadium.

So how will Arsenal line-up as they look to beat the current FA Cup holders? Here we predict Arteta’s XI…

Goalkeeper: Martinez will start again in goal, having performed well since coming in for the injured Bernd Leno. The Argentinian will be hoping to stake a claim for a starting spot next term, having made some sensational saves since he came into the side.

Defenders: We expect Arteta to name a back four today and try and match City’s formation. With Pablo Mari still out injured we expect the controversial David Luiz to start alongside Englishman Rob Holding. Young full back Kieran Tierney has been playing well so we expect him to retain his place with Southampton recruit Cederic Soares on the other side.

Midfielders: Another controversial player Matteo Guendouzi will probably find himself out the side again, having been dropped by Arteta. Bukayo Saka will get the nod again, after making an impressive start since lockdown. Dani Ceballos should also get a starting place having perfromed very well off the bench against Liverpool midweek. Granit Xhaka is likely to make up the Arsenal midfield which means Lucas Torreira will drop to the bench.

Forwards: Alexandre Lacazette is likely to start this game having got amongst the goals again at Liverpool. And club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will come back into the side having found himself on the bench last time out. That leaves multi-million pound signing Nicolas Pepe on the right hand side.

Predicted XI: Martinez, Soares, Luiz, Holding, Tierney; Xhaka, Ceballos, Saka; Aubameyang, Lacazette, Pepe