Arteta's team selection for tonight will have a significant effect on Arsenal's fortunes for the rest of the title race

By Danong

While Manchester City continues to show they're no threat to us in the title race, Liverpool keeps sustaining their lead at the top of the table.

We must keep winning because Liverpool are bound to hit a bad patch and we will be ready to take advantage, even without Saka.

Arsenal takes on Ipswich tonight in a game they'll be hoping to use to put pressure on the league leaders and widen the gap between us, Chelsea and defending champions Manchester City.

Going into that clash at the Emirates, Arsenal will be without their star man Bukayo Saka—the Englishman is out with a hamstring injury. Raheem Sterling is also out due to injury.

The Arsenal boss will have to find a way to replace his most productive Gunner; almost all of Arsenal's attacking play went through Saka, who boasts 10 assists and 5 goals in 16 games.

Arteta may in fact have to reduce the emphasis placed on our right wing and use both sides equally thus helping confuse the opponents and have a more balanced approach.

Ethan Nwaneri, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Gabriel Martinelli have been suggested as options to fill in at right wing.

So, who replaces Saka? Does Jesus retain his spot in the team? Will it be Jorginho instead of Partey? Rice, Havertz or Merino at LCM and who plays left-back?

Arteta's team selection for tonight will have a significant effect on Arsenal's fortunes for the rest of the title race.

Well, my predicted Arsenal line-up against Ipswich Town at the Emirates has:

- Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back: As decent as the young Gunner has been, playing him continues to build his confidence and gives him a chance to break into the team, which is great. 

- Thomas Partey has had a great season so far with Jurrien Timber at right-back. Partey continues his resurgence as the #6.

- Gabriel Jesus remains at the top; with 5 goals in the last 2 games, he's a man in form, and against Ipswich, he could have a great chance to continue his goal-scoring exploits.

When Jesus has scored in a Premier League match, he hasn't lost: he's unbeaten in 61 games (56 wins and 5 draws), so Arsenal needs him to keep scoring.

- Declan Rice also deserves to start, especially after his game-changing performance in his cameo versus Crystal Palace, where he scored and showed what a hit he and Partey can be—the Ghanaian international gives him all the freedom to influence the attack.

Martinelli was a hit at RW. With Odegaard and Timber on the RHS, any quality player will shine at RW.

For a player like Martinelli, with pace, he just has to get the ball, drive and cross with his preferred foot. He'll do well in Saka's absence there.

Predicted line-up against Ipswich Town:

- Raya
- Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly
- Partey, Odegaard, Rice
- Martinelli, Jesus, Trossard

An Arsenal win would see them reach 36 points, which is 4 points less than they had at such a time last year.

Some feel our Gunners haven't been at their best, but they haven't been that bad either. There's much to play for in the second half of the season.