Arsenal returned from Prague with three more points and a fresh selection puzzle, which Mikel Arteta must solve before promoted Hull City visit the Emirates Stadium at 3 pm on Saturday. The Premier League leaders have won eight of their nine league games, and last Sunday’s 1-0 victory at Anfield moved them three points clear of Manchester City. Another win would stretch that gap to six, at least until City play later in the day.
Wednesday’s 2-1 Champions League win over Slavia Prague came at a cost, with Ezri Konsa withdrawn on the hour with a reported knee problem. Bukayo Saka remains out with a quad injury, and Max Dowman is suspended, although William Saliba has returned to training.
Sergej Jakirović’s Hull have 11 points and no league win in seven, yet five of their nine games have finished level, and they recovered to draw 2-2 with Ipswich Town last weekend. Expect a compact 5-4-1 and a test of Arsenal’s patience.
Goalkeeper and defence
David Raya should continue behind the division’s best defence, with Arsenal conceding only five league goals and keeping clean sheets in their last three league wins. His distribution will matter against a deep block, although he must also command his area when Hull aim set pieces at Oli McBurnie.
Jurriën Timber and Riccardo Calafiori should replace Ben White and Piero Hincapié at full-back. Both are comfortable stepping into midfield, which gives Arsenal an extra passer against a crowded defence, but they must also recover quickly if Mohamed Belloumi breaks on the counter.
Gabriel is the one certainty at centre-back. Konsa earns the prediction beside him, having appeared in all 14 games since his £55m move from Aston Villa, but he must first pass a late fitness assessment.
Arteta said only that the defender “had some issues” in Prague, so this remains a doubtful selection. Cristhian Mosquera, who replaced him on Wednesday, is the obvious alternative. Saliba made the bench in midweek, but he has not played since July, and a substitute’s role looks the sensible route back.
Midfield
Bruno Guimarães and Declan Rice should form the double pivot. Guimarães started on the bench in Prague and should bring fresher legs, along with the quick, forward passing needed to move a low block from side to side.
Rice offers the balance beside him. He can screen the back four when Hull try to counter, then push into the box once Arsenal have pinned the visitors back.
The visitors are short of options here. Matt Crooks is suspended after collecting his fifth yellow card, while Eliot Matazo remains out, which places a heavy burden on Tim Iroegbunam. His running will be central to any Hull attempt to escape Arsenal’s first line of pressure, so winning the ball back early should be the priority for Guimarães and Rice.
Attack
Saka’s absence hands Noni Madueke the right flank, and his goal in Prague strengthens that claim. His direct dribbling skills offer Arsenal a way of committing Hull’s wing-back and forcing the back five out of shape. Christos Tzolis should provide the same threat from the left, keeping the pitch wide.
Martin Ødegaard returns after starting on the bench in midweek, and his ability to find pockets between the lines will be vital against such a narrow, disciplined side.
The main call comes up front. Viktor Gyökeres scored and assisted in Prague, but Kai Havertz should still lead the line after his winner at Anfield made him the Premier League’s highest-scoring German. His movement can pull centre-backs out of position and open room for Ødegaard and Madueke, leaving Gyökeres as a dangerous option if Hull tire late on.
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): David Raya – Jurriën Timber, Ezri Konsa, Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori – Bruno Guimarães, Declan Rice – Noni Madueke, Martin Ødegaard, Christos Tzolis – Kai Havertz.
