Line-up Lessons – Gameweek 17 – Part One

John Stones and Kelechi Iheanacho are consigned to the bench once again. Wayne Rooney earns back-to-back starts for the first time since Gameweek 5, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s run of four successive starts for the Gunners comes to an end. Here’s the first part of our Gameweek 17 teamsheet summary, outlining the trends and tactics on show, along with early insight into the likely line-ups for the Boxing Day programme.

Arsenal

Starting XI: Cech, Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin (Giroud 75), Xhaka, Walcott, Ozil, Iwobi (Oxlade-Chamberlain 65, Elneny 77), Sanchez.

• Arsene Wenger made one adjustment from the side that lost 2-1 at Everton for the trip to the Etihad, with Alex Iwobi recalled in place of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
• Iwobi came in on the left of the attacking midfield trio in the usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Theo Walcott retaining his place on the opposite flank.
• Wenger’s first substitution saw Oxlade-Chamberlain enter the fray in place of Iwobi shortly after the hour-mark in a straight swap. After falling 2-1 behind, Wenger turned to Olivier Giroud off the bench, with Francis Coquelin making way. Moments later, Oxlade-Chamberlain had to be replaced after picking up a muscular problem, with Mohamed Elneny taking his place, leaving Walcott, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez in a fluid attacking midfield trio behind lone striker Giroud as the Gunners tried and failed to find a way back into the match.
• After conceding another two goals, Wenger could consider making changes. Elneny and potentially Aaron Ramsey, providing he recovers from a hamstring injury, may push for a start in central midfield in place of either Coquelin or Granit Xhaka. Lucas Perez offers an option to replace Iwobi, while Giroud may also come into contention to start against West Bromwich Albion to help deal with the Baggies set-piece threat.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Left Flank

Bournemouth

Starting XI: Boruc; Francis, S Cook, Ake, Daniels; Arter, Wilshere; A Smith, King (Ibe 72), Pugh (Fraser 55); Wilson (Afobe 64).

• Eddie Howe only made one change from the side that beat Leicester City 1-0 for the visit of Southampton to the Vitality Stadium, with Callum Wilson recovering from a minor head injury to replace Benik Afobe.
• Wilson was restored in the lone striker role in the 4-2-3-1 formation, with Adam Smith (right), Josh King (No 10) and Marc Pugh (left) forming the attacking midfield trio.
• But after falling 2-1 behind early in the second half, Howe turned to Ryan Fraser off the bench, with the Scot replacing Pugh in a straight swap. Wilson then made way for Afobe shortly after the hour mark, while Howe’s final substitution saw Jordon Ibe replace King.
• Howe will have to make at least one change for the trip to Stamford Bridge, with Nathan Ake ineligible to play against his parent club. Simon Francis may well shift across to centre-back, then, with Smith likely to return at right-back. Fraser or Ibe could earn a recall on the right wing, although Howe may want to solidify the midfield against the in-form Blues, so Dan Gosling may be handed a recall in central midfield, allowing Jack Wilshere to return to the No 10 role. King could then be forced into one of the wide positions. Afobe may also push Wilson for the starting spot in attack.

Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Defence, Central Midfield, Flanks, Lone Striker

Burnley

Starting XI: Heaton; Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward; Boyd (Kightly 83), Hendrick, Marney (Defour 84), Arfield; Barnes (Vokes 80), Gray.

• Sean Dyche only made one change for the trip to White Hart Lane, with Ashley Barnes starting in place of Sam Vokes.
• That change saw the Clarets line up in a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Barnes playing in a support striker role behind Andre Gray.
• After going 2-1 behind, Dyche turned to Vokes off the bench, with the Welshman replacing Barnes for the final 10 minutes, seeing Burnley switch to a 4-4-2. Then, to provide some fresh legs, Michael Kightly and Steven Defour were introduced in place of George Boyd and Dean Marney in straight swaps for the final few minutes.
• Dyche will be without the suspended Matt Lowton for the home fixture against Middlesbrough on Boxing Day, so Jon Flanagan appears likely to come in at right-back. Defour may push for a recall in central midfield, in either the 4-4-2 or 4-5-1, while Vokes could come into contention to replace either Barnes or Gray.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Midfield, Forwards

Chelsea

Starting XI: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill, Moses (Ivanovic 79), Kante, Matic, Alonso, Willian (Fabregas 64), Costa (Batshuayi 89), Hazard.

• Antonio Conte made two changes from the side that beat Sunderland 1-0 for the trip to Selhurst Park, with the fit-again Eden Hazard replacing Pedro, while Nemanja Matic earned a recall at the expense of Cesc Fabregas.
• Matic slotted in alongside N’Golo Kante in the usual 3-4-3 system, while Hazard returned on the left of the front three, with Willian starting on the opposite flank.
• Willian was the first player to be replaced, though, with Fabregas taking his place shortly after the hour mark. The Spaniard played slightly narrower than Willian had down the right flank. Branislav Ivanovic then took over from Victor Moses at right wing-back as they shifted to a 3-5-1-1 with Hazard pushed behind the striker. Conte’s final substitution saw Michy Batshuayi provide fresh legs in place of Diego Costa in a straight swap for the final couple of minutes.
• Conte will be without Kante and Costa for the home clash against Bournemouth after both players picked up their fifth yellow cards of the campaign on Saturday. Fabregas and Batshuayi appear likely to take their places in the starting XI then, while Pedro is a viable alternative to Willian on the right flank.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Right Wing, Central Striker

Crystal Palace

Starting XI: Hennessey, Kelly (Fryers 84), Dann, Delaney, Ward, Cabaye (Campbell 79), Ledley, McArthur, Zaha, Benteke, Puncheon (Townsend 77).

• Palace boss Alan Pardew made two alterations for the home encounter against Chelsea, with Jason Puncheon returning from suspension to replace Lee Chung-yong, while Joe Ledley came in for the injured Mathieu Flamini.
• Those changes saw the Eagles line up in more of a 4-3-3, with Ledley joining Yohan Cabaye and James McArthur in central midfield, while Puncheon (left) and Wilfried Zaha (right) flanked central striker Christian Benteke.
• Pardew made his first substitution with just 13 minutes remaining, with Andros Townsend brought on in place of Puncheon. Townsend played on the right wing, with Zaha moving across to the opposite flank. Then, in an attacking move, Fraizer Campbell was introduced for Cabaye, with Campbell joining Benteke up front in a 4-4-2. Zeki Fryers replaced Martin Kelly for the final six minutes, with Fryers playing at left-back, seeing Joel Ward move across to right-back.
• After a reasonable performance against the leaders, and with his options appearing limited, Pardew isn’t expected to make many changes for the Boxing Day trip to Vicarage Road. Townsend may perhaps push for a recall, particularly if Pardew looks to go back to a 4-2-3-1, with one of Ledley or Cabaye possibly at risk of dropping to the bench. Campbell provides an option if the Palace manager considers switching to a 4-4-2.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks

Hull City

Starting XI: Marshall, Maguire, Dawson, Davies; Elmohamady, Livermore (Henriksen 70), Huddlestone (Bowen 86), Clucas, Robertson; Snodgrass, Mbokani (Diomande 70).

• Mike Phelan only made one alteration for the trip to the London Stadium, with Dieumerci Mbokani back from his suspension to replace Adama Diomande in attack.
• Mbokani returned as the lone striker for the Tigers in the 3-5-1-1 formation, with Robert Snodgrass continuing in the central attacking midfield role.
• With the match still goalless, Phelan made a double substitution, with Markus Henriksen and Diomande replacing Jake Livermore and Mbokani in straight swaps. Then, after falling a goal behind, Phelan threw on Jarrod Bowen in place of Huddlestone, ending the match in more of a 3-4-3, with Bowen, Snodgrass and Diomande in attack.
• Given that Hull entertain Man City on Boxing Day, Phelan will probably stick with the more conservative 3-5-1-1 formation. He doesn’t appear to have too many options to change things personnel wise, then, with Ryan Mason and David Meyler candiates to return in central midfield, while Diomande is a viable alternative to Mbokani in attack.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Forwards

Leicester City

Starting XI: Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez (Musa 80), King, Amartey, Albrighton (Gray 72); Slimani (Ulloa 72), Vardy.

• Claudio Ranieri only made two changes from the side that lost 1-0 at Bournemouth for the trip to the bet365 Stadium, with Kasper Schmeichel returning from injury to replace Ron-Robert Zieler in goal, while Danny Simpson was back from suspension to come in for Luis Hernandez.
• Simpson slotted into his usual position at right-back, then, while Jamie Vardy and Islam Slimani again combined in attack for the Foxes in the 4-4-2 formation.
• Vardy’s sending off in the first-half led to that being a 4-4-1 system, but Ranieri only made his first changes in the 72nd minute, with Demarai Gray and Leonardo Ulloa coming on in place of Marc Albrighton and Slimani in straight swaps. Then, with 10 minutes remaining, Ahmed Musa took over from Riyad Mahrez on the right wing.
• Leicester look set to appeal Vardy’s sending off, but should he remain suspended for the Boxing Day clash against Everton, either Shinji Okazaki or Ulloa could take his place in attack. Ranieri will be without the suspended Christian Fuchs and Robert Huth against the Toffees, though, so either Ben Chilwell or Jeffrey Schlupp could come in at left-back, with Hernandez likely to deputise at centre-back. Nampalys Mendy and Danny Drinkwater – should he recover from a knee problem – offer different options in central midfield, while Gray and Musa may challenge Albrighton for the starting berth on the left wing.

Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Left-Back, Central Defence, Central Midfield, Left Wing, Forwards

Man City

Starting XI: Bravo, Zabaleta (Sagna 46), Otamendi, Kolarov, Clichy, Fernando, Sane (Navas 75), Toure, Silva, De Bruyne (Iheanacho 83), Sterling.

• Pep Guardiola made two alterations for the home clash against Arsenal, with Fernando recalled in place of the injured Ilkay Gundogan, while Leroy Sane started in place of Nolito.
• Fernando started alongside Yaya Toure at the base of midfield in a 4-2-3-1 formation, while Sane was stationed on the right of the attacking midfield trio. Raheem Sterling initially started the match as a “false nine.”
• Heading into half-time 1-0 down, Guardiola made one personnel change, with Bacary Sagna replacing Pablo Zabaleta in a straight swap, after the Argentinian picked up a knee problem. The City boss also made a tactical tweak, with Kevin de Bruyne taking over from Sterling as the “false nine,” while Sterling moved to the right wing, seeing Sane move to the opposite flank. The German was then replaced by Jesus Navas with 15 minutes remaining, seeing the Spanish winger operate on the right wing, with Sterling moving over to the left. Kelechi Iheanacho was handed a brief run-out, replacing De Bruyne in a straight swap for the final seven minutes.
• Guardiola named an unchanged back four from the one that started against Watford, finally hinting at a degree of consistency in his defensive selection. Zabaleta is a doubt for the trip to Hull on Boxing Day, though, so Sagna could come in at right-back. John Stones was left out once more, and looks to have fallen behind Nicolas Otamendi and Aleksandar Kolarov in the pecking order at centre-back. The City boss will have Fernandinho available for the trip to the KCOM Stadium following the conclusion of the midfielder’s suspension, so he could replace Fernando in central midfield. The likes of Nolito and Iheanacho may also come into contention for recalls, although after coming from behind to beat the Gunners, the players who started on Sunday appear to be in the box seat to keep hold of their starting berths.

Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Midfield, Flanks, Lone Striker

Man United

Starting XI: De Gea; Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Darmian; Carrick, Herrera (Smalling 92); Lingard (Rashford 77), Pogba, Rooney (Fellaini 84); Ibrahimovic.

• Jose Mourinho made three changes from the side that beat Crystal Palace 2-1 for the trip to the Hawthorns, with Antonio Valencia, who was available again after serving his one-match ban, replacing the injured Eric Bailly. Elsewhere, Matteo Darmian and Jesse Lingard returned in place of Daley Blind and Juan Mata.
• Valencia and Darmian slotted in at right-back and left-back respectively, while Lingard was stationed on the right of midfield in the 4-1-4-1 formation.
• It was Lingard who was the first player to be replaced, making way for Marcus Rashford in a straight swap for the final 13 minutes. Marouane Fellaini then took over from Wayne Rooney on the left side of midfield, while Chris Smalling replaced Ander Herrera late on to help see out the 2-0 victory.
• With United hitting some form, Mourinho isn’t expected to make many changes for the home fixture against Sunderland on Boxing Day. It’s out wide where he could consider tweaks, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan likely to come into contention should he recover from an ankle injury. Rashford, Mata and Anthony Martial also offer further alternatives in the wide positions.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Flanks

Middlesbrough

Starting XI: Valdes; Barragan, Chambers, Gibson, Fabio (Traore 87); Clayton; Ramirez (Friend 62), Forshaw, De Roon, Fischer (Downing 12); Negredo.

• Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka only made one change for the visit of Swansea City to the Riverside, with the fit-again Gaston Ramirez replacing Adama Traore.
• Ramirez played on the right side of midfield in the 4-1-4-1 formation, with Viktor Fischer operating on the opposite flank.
• Fischer’s afternoon lasted only 12 minutes, though, after he picked up a worrying looking knee injury. The Dane was replaced by Stewart Downing in a straight swap. With the home side leading 3-0, Karanka decided to take off Ramirez, with George Friend returning from injury to take his place in a more advanced role than usual. Traore was handed a few minutes late on in place of Fabio, with Friend then returning to his more familiar position at left-back.
• Fischer appears a major doubt for the Boxing Day trip to Turf Moor, so Downing or Traore look set to compete for a starting spot out wide. Karanka will also be hoping Ramirez is fit after the Uruguayan was withdrawn due to a knee problem. With Friend now back to fitness, he may well replace Fabio at left-back against the Clarets, although the Brazilian could also shift to the right to challenge Antonio Barragán’s starting role.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Left-Back, Flanks

Part Two of Line-up Lessons, which assess the remaining 10 Premier League teamsheets, will be rolled out tomorrow.