All seemed lost going into Wednesday night for Arsenal, but it's amazing what one result can do. The Gunners top-four hopes were flipped on their head by a shock 4-2 victory over Chelsea that has seen momentum lurch back in their favour going into the final game of the season.
So what now for Mikel Arteta? Does he stick with a game plan that worked a treat at Stamford Bridge even though it was specifically catered to the threats Thomas Tuchel's side pose? Or does he switch things up for the impending visit of a Manchester United that, on paper at least, Arsenal are expected to beat? He elaborated a little on that exact dilemma in his pre-match press conference.
"It is hard, but fortunately, that's been the case in many weeks when I had to pick others that have to step in, and they've done well for the team because they always prepare well," the Spaniard said on the prospect of changing a winning formula. "That's what we expect, but that doesn't mean we are always going to repeat the same line-up. We have options to change, and we have options to change again tomorrow and play in different ways."
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta delivers fitness update on Takehiro Tomiyasu and Alexandre Lacazette before United
One position where he's unlikely to change things is in goal. Aaron Ramsdale actually came under a bit of stick for the first goal let in against the Blues, and although it is a distinctly flawed statistic, the rate at which Arsenal conceding at the minute when compared to their expected goals against would suggest the England 'keeper is not quite at the levels he's shown for much of this season. Still though at such a precarious point in the season it's unlikely that Arteta will want to rock the boat between the sticks. In front of him, maybe a different story, though.
Against Chelsea, Arsenal operated with a hybrid back three/back four systems that required an impressive level of tactical flexibility from those involved. Rob Holding came into a backline that saw Ben White occasionally switch out to the right-back position while also operating as a part-time centre back.
While it worked away at Stamford Bridge, it's difficult to see Arteta opting for such a defence-first approach at home. The Spaniard reiterated his desire to turn the Emirates Stadium into a fortress on Friday, and whenever the big teams have come to Arsenal this season, the Gunners have generally looked to take the game to the opposition by playing their own way.
With this in mind, you can imagine a return to the 4-3-3 that has served them so well for the majority of the back end of this season. This, though, in itself, creates a few problems. Nuno Tavares has returned to the team recently and done well, particularly against Chelsea, but the Portuguese full-back needs a defensive platform behind him in order to let him be at his best going forward.
Against Southampton that was Cedric - who largely did well - and against Chelsea that was mostly White. Both could be involved against United, but the return of a key piece to the Arsenal defence may make Arteta's mind for him. Takehiro Tomiyasu is back in training, and Arteta revealed his chances of being involved on Saturday are positive. "If he trains today and he feels good, he will be available tomorrow," the Spaniard said.
The Japanese international was the perfect fulcrum when Tavares started earlier in the season, and with the counter-attacking threat United are likely to pose, his return could be timed perfectly. Of course, it's a risk given his fitness struggles all season, but with seven days of recovery time after this game, it could be the right time to take it.
That creates a dilemma in front of the defence. Albert Sambi Lokonga has been the preferred six since Thomas Partey was ruled out for what is likely to be the rest of the season with a thigh problem, but Mohamed Elneny performed an impressive role in the win at Chelsea as part of a double pivot and gained plenty of praise from Arteta.
"I will say that for me, he's one of the most important players in the squad," the Spaniard said. "For what he does when you give him the chance to play and for the things that he does when he doesn't play. It's a phenomenal person, and then you have to judge the footballer as well, that sometimes doesn't get probably the credit that he deserves."
After such a glowing reference, it's really hard to see how he doesn't make the lineup on Saturday. The Egyptian can operate as a solid if the unspectacular base of a midfield three that will include future captaincy contender Martin Odegaard and captain without the armband Granit Xhaka.
Over on the right, Bukayo Saka is a shoo-in after exorcising the demons of the summer with his spot-kick on Wednesday. Whether it's Alex Telles or Luke Shaw at left-back, neither will fancy their chances up against the England international. Over on the left, Aaron Wan-Bissaka will have his work cut out for him against Emile Smith Rowe, who has rediscovered his scoring touch.
Finally, that leaves the centre forward position where surely Eddie Nketiah has done enough to start after scoring two goals against Chelsea. Alexandre Lacazette may not be fully fit due to COVID anyway, but that shouldn't change the fact that Nketiah is now there on merit and looks set to finally get his wish of a consistent run in the Arsenal team.
Arsenal predicted XI vs Manchester United - Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tavares; Elneny, Odegaard, Xhaka; Saka, Nketiah, Smith Rowe.
