[4-3-3]: Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres starts, Norgaard and Zubimendi in midfield and Declan Rice position changed- Arsenal’s predicted lineups vs Villarreal as Mikel Arteta confirms Declan Rice’s position change
Arsenal new boy Noni Madueke could be in line for his first appearance in red and white stripes when the Gunners take on Villarreal in Wednesday’s pre-season friendly at the Emirates.
The former Chelsea man was left out of the Gunners’ pre-season tour squad after his Club World Cup feats, although he was raring to go as soon as he signed his contract with Mikel Arteta’s side.
Having now had ample time to rest and recuperate, Madueke will surely be part of the matchday squad on Wednesday, especially as Leandro Trossard tweaked a muscle in Thursday’s 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Madueke may be restricted to minutes off the bench, though, as Gabriel Martinelli should hold the fort on the left-hand side for now, while Bukayo Saka struts his stuff on the right as ever.
Kai Havertz has played a lot of football in recent weeks, so there is every chance that Viktor Gyokeres will make his first – unofficial – start for Arsenal on Wednesday, in front of a menacing midfield three.
With the season fast approaching, Arteta should deploy Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in a first-choice engine room, but all of Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber could miss out through injury.
As a result, Cristhian Mosquera may pair up with William Saliba at the heart of the backline, while Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ben White also form part of David Raya’s four-man shield.
Fresh off the back of their pre-season tour of Asia, Arsenal next take on Villarreal at the Emirates Stadium as the new Premier League campaign draws ever closer.
Mikel Arteta’s side defeated Milan and Newcastle in the Far East, before losing the first-ever North London derby played outside of the U.K. against Tottenham.
Now they will be looking to get back to winning ways against the La Liga club.
The game will see the home debut of Viktor Gyokeres — although that may come off the bench — and the likely first sighting of Noni Madueke in an Arsenal kit against a Villarreal team with several former Premier League players, and two former Gunners in Nicolas Pepe and Denis Suarez.
Arsenal vs. Villarreal predicted lineups
Arsenal predicted lineup (4-3-3, right to left)
Raya (GK) — White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly — Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard — Martinelli, Saka, Havertz
Injured: Jesus, Calafiori, Gabriel, Timber, Trossard
Suspended: None
Villarreal predicted lineup (3-5-2, right to left)
Junior (GK) — Foyth, Mourino, Marin, Cardona — Pepe, Gueye, Parejo, Pino — Eyong, Moreno
