Who will lead the line for Arsenal in their high-profile Premier League match against West Ham? What does the future hold for Aston Villa’s right flank in their pivotal match against Manchester United with Champions League implications? And with key players like Victor Osimhen and Fikayo Tomori missing, who will take the field for AC Milan and Napoli in their crucial Serie A showdown?
Here are the forecasted lineups for Sunday’s most anticipated matches in European soccer.
West Ham vs. Arsenal
West Ham’s Expected Lineup:
- Goalkeeper: Alphonse Areola
- Left Back: Emerson Palmieri
- Center Backs: Nayef Aguerd, Kurt Zouma
- Right Back: Vladimír Coufal
- Defensive Midfield: Edson Álvarez, Tomáš Souček
- Attacking Midfield: James Ward-Prowse
- Left Wing: Maxwel Cornet
- Right Wing: Mohammed Kudus
- Striker: Jarrod Bowen
West Ham, despite their injury woes, boasts an attack that looks remarkably potent and could pose serious problems for Arsenal on their home turf.
Mohammed Kudus has been a standout performer since his arrival at West Ham, with James Ward-Prowse also in the conversation for the Premier League’s “signing of the season.”
Jarrod Bowen, having netted 11 goals in the 2023/24 season, has been a revelation for the Hammers, elevating his performance significantly with the support of Kudus and Ward-Prowse.
Arsenal’s Expected Lineup:
- Goalkeeper: David Raya
- Left Back: Jakub Kiwior
- Center Backs: Gabriel Magalhães, William Saliba
- Right Back: Ben White
- Midfield: Declan Rice, Jorginho, Martin Ødegaard
- Left Wing: Gabriel Martinelli
- Center Forward: Kai Havertz
- Right Wing: Bukayo Saka
Without Oleksandr Zinchenko, Arsenal will rely on Jakub Kiwior’s defensive capabilities at left-back. Zinchenko’s absence could impact Arsenal’s build-up play, but Declan Rice’s positioning on the left midfield should help address this concern.
The midfield duo of Jorginho and Rice is expected to dominate possession, with Jorginho playing a crucial role in neutralizing counterattacks.
Martin Ødegaard’s forward movements and high positioning will be key in creating scoring opportunities against a West Ham defense known for its resilience and ability to frustrate Arsenal.
Kai Havertz, transitioning from a challenging stint at Chelsea, is presented with a golden chance to shine, especially with Gabriel Jesus sidelined. In collaboration with Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, Havertz is expected to fulfill a pivotal role reminiscent of Karim Benzema’s influence.
