Arsenal predicted starting XI vs Fulham with Martinez out and defensive injuries

Mikel Arteta has made his decision over Arsenal’s goalkeeper situation – with Bernd Leno getting the nod at Craven Cottage.

The Germany international will return to the starting lineup against newly-promoted Fulham, in what appears likely to be the end of Emiliano Martinez’s Arsenal career.

Martinez will not be in the squad for the meeting in west London.

The Argentine, who starred in Leno’s absence during the Premier League’s ‘project restart’ last term and was between the sticks for their FA Cup success, has made it clear that he wants regular first-team football.

And he is now increasingly likely to join Aston Villa next week, with the Villans set to return with a third transfer offer for a player who has been contracted to the Gunners since 2010.

As such, fit again Leno, who played for Germany in midweek, will start behind a defence missing a number of centre-backs.

David Luiz, Calum Chambers, Pablo Mari, Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis will all be absent.

As such the questions for Arteta are two-fold where his defence are concerned.

Does he throw £27million Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba straight into the starting lineup?

And does he continue with the 3-4-3 formation that led to FA Cup and Community Shield success?

On the subject of Gabriel and fellow new boy Willian – having completed his switch from Chelsea last month – Arteta said on Friday: “They have been training really well.

“They have adapted quickly. They are really excited to be here with us, really good energy from both of them. Big talent, both in very different phases of their career.

“One is already very established in the Premier League with incredible quality. And another one that has to adapt to this league but has huge potential to become a key player for us in the future.”

As such, it appears that Willian will get the nod, but Gabriel may have to watch from the sidelines in the season opener.

Rob Holding, Saliba and Kieran Tierney look set to line up as a back three, with Hector Bellerin and Ainsley Maitland-Niles – whose own future isn’t 100 percent certain despite his England debut in midweek – in the wing-back positions.

Eddie Nketiah may get the nod in attack, ahead of Alexandre Lacazette.

Probable Arsenal lineup: Leno; Holding, Saliba, Tierney; Bellerin, Ceballos, Xhaka, Maitland-Niles; Willian; Nketiah, Aubameyang.

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