How Arsenal could line up against Burnley

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is once again working around a midfield crisis for the visit of Burnley to the Emirates on Sunday in the Premier League.

The Gunners - who are already without Mohamed Elneny due to the Africa Cup of Nations and Granit Xhaka due to suspension - saw the returning Thomas Partey receive two yellow cards against Liverpool in Thursday's EFL Cup semi-final exit.

The trio of Bernd Leno, Calum Chambers and Cedric Soares are also struggling with various injury woes, but none of them would have been expected to start here.

Takehiro Tomiyasu looked a little rusty in midweek, but a lack of options on the right-hand side should see the Japan international once again feature in an unchanged backline with Kieran Tierney, Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben White.

Albert Sambi Lokonga once again represents Arsenal's only fit senior central midfielder, which means that Martin Odegaard will likely be required to drop deeper, unless Arteta hands Charlie Patino his Premier League debut.

Such a scenario is unlikely against this physical Burnley outfit, but Emile Smith Rowe will expect to hold his place despite also looking off the pace on Thursday night.

Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli will continue to form a youthful attacking unit behind Alexandre Lacazette, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang unlikely to be risked despite reassuring fans that his post-COVID health scare was nothing serious.

Arsenal possible starting lineup: Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Lokonga, Odegaard; Saka, Smith Rowe, Martinelli; Lacazette