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Formation - 4-3-3
Goalkeeper - Mathew Ryan
Following the puzzling omission of Nagoya Grampus gloveman Mitch Langerak from the squad, a decision which came under intense scrutiny from retired Socceroos Tommy Oar, Robbie Cornthwaite and former goalkeepers Mark Schwarzer and Mark Bosnich, Arnold ultimately chose captain Ryan, play-off hero Andrew Redmayne and 37-year-old Danny Vukovic as his three shot-stoppers to take to Qatar.
Due to his pedigree with numerous top flight European clubs including Valencia, Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal, Ryan is likely to assume the captain's armband and his starting position once again during the tournament, despite the recent drama surrounding his selection troubles at FC Copenhagen and current first-choice keeper Kamil Grabara's criticism of the Aussie.
Full-backs - Aziz Behich, Nathaniel Atkinson
With a career spanning 11 seasons in the European top flight and having made five appearances for Australia this year, Behich will likely occupy the left-back position in Arnold's set-up once again at Qatar 2022.
Behich's only competition for the position comes in the form of 22-year-old Joel King, who has left an impressive mark on the Danish Superliga in his first 16 matches for Odense Boldklub following his departure from Sydney FC in January on a reported six-figure transfer deal.
However, Arnold is likely to balance experience with youth in the starting 11, which could continue by complimenting 52-time capped Behich's maturity with Nathaniel Atkinson, who has made five international appearances.
The 23-year-old's struggles in the Socceroos' penultimate play-off match against United Arab Emirates have been followed by some valuable minutes in the Scottish Premier League, which has seen him claim one goal in eight appearances to start the 2022-23 season.
Arnold will likely start Atkinson and his Heart of Midlothian teammate Kye Rowles in defence, although 10-time capped Fran Karacic, who plays for Italian Serie B club Brescia, would appear the more conservative choice being three years Atkinson's senior.
Centre-backs - Harry Souttar, Kye Rowles
Having endured a 12-month stint on the sideline from an ACL injury, Souttar marked his triumphant return to football by playing all 90 minutes in Stoke City's 2-0 win over Luton Town in the Championship last week, with Arnold evidently deciding that the defender was a risk worth taking on the plane to Qatar despite the question mark over his match fitness.
The 6"6' tall centre-back has towered over opponents in set pieces to score six times in his career for the Socceroos, with his sensational aerial ability noted by both former Socceroo Oar and SBS Sport's Adrian Arciuli as a potential gateway to scoring against France.
Rowles started alongside Bailey Wright in the Peru play-off match, with the 24-year-old's match fitness also an uncertainty, having just returned to the field for Hearts following an eight-week stint on the sideline with a broken foot.
Although Rowles would appear a front-runner for starting in the heart of defence despite his recent injury concerns, Arnold could just as easily choose the experienced Wright or Miloš Degenek in his place, while two-time capped J.League defender Thomas Deng is also an outside chance for the position.
Midfielders - Aaron Mooy, Jackson Irvine, Ajdin Hrustic
Aaron Mooy has been a regular fixture in the Australian side since 2015. Although his debut for Celtic at the start of the season divided opinion, he drew praise from fans in subsequent appearances as he became more familiar with former Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou's title-winning tactical set-up.
Irvine has been a standout for 2. Bundesliga side St. Pauli, with three goals in his 16 appearances this season, while Hrustic has made three starts for Hellas Verona in Serie A after departing Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt at the end of last season.
Although Middlesbrough midfielder Riley McGree's two goals from 20 appearances in the current Championship season have raised his claim for selection, as have Keanu Baccus and Cameron Devlin's strong starts to their respective stints in the Scottish Premier League, Arnold's selection of Mooy, Irvine and Hrustic in the decisive play-off against Peru and in their first friendly match against New Zealand in September suggests that the Socceroos boss will not stray from selecting the midfield trio once again in the all-important opening match.
Forwards - Awer Mabil, Mitchell Duke, Martin Boyle
Although Mabil ultimately landed a contract in La Liga this season with a struggling Cadiz, who are second-last in the league, the Kenyan-born attacker scored a stunning goal against New Zealand in September and has made five appearances for his club to sew up a spot in Arnold's 26-man squad for Qatar 2022.
It could either be an attacking or more conservative tactical approach to the France game, meaning Arnold could easily pick play-off starters Duke, Boyle and Matthew Leckie if he employs the latter.
A longtime favourite of Arnold’s, dating back to their days at Central Coast Mariners, the head coach has also featured Duke heavily in recent times, and the 31-year-old will likely take precedence in the starting lineup over A-League Men duo Jamie Maclaren and squad newcomer Jason Cummings in Qatar.
Granted he regains fitness in time for the France game and avoids being replaced in the squad by Marco Tilio, Boyle looks to be a lock-in for the starting 11 on the right wing, although the Scottish Premier League-situated winger’s minutes at the tournament could depend on the capacity in which Arnold utilises exciting squad bolter Garang Kuol.
