Saliba Set to Make Triumphant Return as Arsenal Eye Victory Against Burnley
Arsenal stand as the premier force in English football right now, and their four-point advantage at the Premier League summit clearly demonstrates their current dominance.
Mikel Arteta's squad has secured eight consecutive victories across all tournaments and has maintained a clean sheet for more than four weeks. Rival teams are struggling to even register shots on target against this commanding Arsenal outfit, a side that will punish opponents when given chances from set-piece scenarios.
This represents a pragmatic and competitive Premier League environment where Arsenal are perfectly positioned to excel, and they may face another challenging encounter when they travel to face newly-promoted Burnley this weekend. The Clarets sit in 16th position, yet they've secured consecutive victories leading up to Saturday's match.
Here's how the Gunners might set up at Turf Moor.
Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs. Burnley (4-3-3)
GK: David Raya—While Kepa Arrizabalaga saw more action on Wednesday evening than Raya has experienced in recent weeks, the backup goalkeeper still maintained Arsenal's shutout run. Raya will return to his position between the sticks for this fixture.
RB: Jurriën Timber—Timber only featured as a substitute in the midweek encounter as Ben White made an uncommon start, so he should be well-rested for the weekend's contest.
CB: William Saliba—Arteta has indicated Saliba "has an opportunity" to feature in Saturday's squad, which essentially means 90 minutes for the French defender in Burnley.
CB: Gabriel—Gabriel overcame a minor injury to feature last weekend against Crystal Palace, and he contributed minutes from the bench against Brighton. His availability for this match is unquestioned.
LB: Riccardo Calafiori—The Italian escaped serious injury last weekend, though he wasn't utilized on Wednesday evening. He's anticipated to rejoin the starting eleven at Turf Moor, having regained his preferred status over Myles Lewis-Skelly.
CM: Martín Zubimendi—The anchor in Arsenal's midfield enjoyed a deserved midweek break, and Zubimendi will play a crucial part in breaking down Burnley's organized defensive structure.
CM: Declan Rice—Rice was also a fitness doubt before Wednesday's cup match, but his second-half appearance suggests he's recovered fully.
CM: Eberechi Eze—Eze delivered the decisive goal last weekend, and is operating as the primary playmaker for Arteta's team while Martin Ødegaard remains unavailable.
RW: Bukayo Saka—Saka has rediscovered his rhythm following the international period, netting an excellent goal during the week. Burnley's defense is resilient, but we witnessed Arsenal's star wide player excel in his last away performance from the Emirates.
ST: Viktor Gyökeres—Expect a crowded Burnley penalty area throughout Saturday's 90 minutes, making persistence key for Gyökeres.
LW: Leandro Trossard—With Gabriel Martinelli unavailable, Trossard, who netted the decisive goal at Fulham during Arsenal's last road trip, is certain to round out their attacking trio.
