Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta may drop three players from his starting XI for this evening’s Champions League match at home to Sevilla. Saturday’s loss at Newcastle could spark the Spaniard into a trio of changes. Express Sport looks at how the Gunners could line up in an important match at the Emirates.
Goalkeeper – Raya
Arteta has set his stall out and David Raya will keep his place in goal. Arteta would perhaps be admitting defeat if he were to bring Aaron Ramsdale back in between the sticks.
Raya has started the last 10 matches across the Premier League and Champions League. He has faced plenty of adversity in that time but Arteta has backed him and will continue to do so.
Defence – Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko
Defence sees the first change, with Ben White dropping out of the starting XI. He has featured in all 17 matches Arsenal have played across four competitions this season, starting 16 of them.
He is due for a rest, meaning Takehiro Tomiyasu could start at right-back, a position he finished in on Saturday. The Japan star has impressed of late and kept Oleksandr Zinchenko out of the team in the north east.
Zinchenko could therefore come back in at left-back. William Saliba and Gabriel will play centrally if both are fit.
Read more… Man Utd ‘agree’ Mason Greenwood return stance as Anthony Martial nears exit door
Midfield – Jorginho, Vieira, Rice
Arteta doesn’t have many options to choose from in midfield. Martin Odegaard remains a doubt after missing the weekend through injury, while Thomas Partey and Emile Smith Rowe are sidelined.
Kai Havertz continues to underwhelm so he could make way tonight, with Fabio Vieira coming in to replace him. Vieira needs a good performance as his early-season promise has faded in recent weeks.
Declan Rice has to play, while Jorginho will also keep his spot. Mohamed Elneny is the only other fit midfielder but he hasn’t started a match since the FA Cup win over Oxford in January.
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Attack – Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
Eddie Nketiah may feel hard done by to be left out after scoring a hat-trick on his last appearance at the Emirates. But his last two outings against West Ham and Newcastle left plenty to be desired.
Gabriel Jesus is not fit so Leandro Trossard could start up top. The Belgian scored in Arsenal’s only previous home game in the Champions League this season against PSV.
Bukayo Saka didn’t seem 100 per cent fit at the end of Saturday’s loss. Arteta hasn’t given an update on the winger, though, and he will be hoping to start both him and Gabriel Martinelli.
Arsenal predicted XI in full: Raya; Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Jorginho, Vieira, Rice; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
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