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Arsenal vs Huddersfield Town: 08/12/2018 – match preview and predicted starting XIs

Arsenal vs Huddersfield Town

Date: 08/12/2018

K/O: 15.00

Venue: Emirates Stadium

Referee: Paul Tierney

Arsenal host Huddersfield at the Emirates this weekend as the festive fixtures start to pile up, with both sides in need of the win after failing to win in midweek against Manchester United and Bournemouth respectively.

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The Gunners are now on a twenty match unbeaten run after a thrilling win against Spurs and a messy draw away against Manchester United. That point left them back outside the top four and Emery will be keen to get his side back to winning ways.

Key to the up-tempo, attacking verve of recent weeks has been the lack of Mesut Ozil and the upturn in form of Ramsey and Mkhitaryan. Given Emery’s dismissive tone when asked about the German playmaker, it would be a surprise to see Ozil return.

The main team change will likely see Alexandre Lacazette play up front with Aubameyang out wide. This formation does somewhat dilute the Gabon international’s goal threat but his spark from wide areas and Lacazette’s increasingly cool finishing have led to 16 league goals for the pair already this season. Emery has tended to only play one of the pair in games against the top six but has played both in games against the rest of the league.

On paper the fixture looks prime for a home win but Huddersfield’s position is very deceptive with performances not being rewarded with points, and aside from a game against Watford, Huddersfield have been unlucky in most games.

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They peppered Bournemouth in defeat on Tuesday forcing Asmir Begovic into five saves, and forced Rui Patricio into four saves on top of the two goals they scored against Wolves. In the middle of those games they looked likely winners against Brighton before Steve Mounie was red carded.

Huddersfield have also hit the woodwork nine times already this season, behind only runaway pair Liverpool and Manchester City; with a touch more luck and sharper finishing Huddersfield will fancy themselves to move away from the bottom three. The issue they have is who will provide those goals, strikers Mounie and Depoitre have no goals this season and only thirteen since promotion; a January purchase could solve the biggest flaw in the side and give reward for their otherwise decent play.

Mounie remains suspended for Saturday and David Wagner is also without the suspended Phillip Billing. Defenders Lowe and Sabiri will both miss out with shoulder injuries.

Arsenal are without defensive quartet Monreal, Mavropanos, Koscielny and Holding with Rob Holding’s injury the most damaging given his recent form. Early reports suggest the in-form youngster will miss out the rest of the season with a cruciate knee ligament injury.



Danny Welbeck is also a long-term absentee whilst both Ozil and Ramsey will try to shake off knocks. Arsenal will welcome back Granit Xhaka from suspension to reform his impressive partnership with Torreira in midfield.

Predicted Starting XIs

Arsenal (3-4-3: Leno; Bellerin, Mustafi, Sokratis, Kolasinac; Xhaka, Torreira; Iwobi, Ramsey, Aubameyang; Lacazette

Huddersfield (4-5-1): Lossl; Hadergjonaj, Kongolo, Zanka, Schindler; Sobhi, Hogg, Mooy, Pritchard, Durm; Depoitre

Prediction: Arsenal 4 Huddersfield 2

 

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