Arsenal visit Sporting CP in the Champions League today.
The Gunners returned to winning ways last weekend with a 3-0 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium.
The focus will now shift to the league phase of the Champions League where Arsenal are two points adrift of the automatic last-16 places.
The London giants face a tricky challenge against an in-form Sporting outfit, but manager Mikel Arteta will want nothing less than a victory.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Predicted Line-up:
David Raya has been an undisputed starter in the Premier League and Champions League games. The Spaniard is guaranteed to start between the sticks.
It should be the same backline from the Forest win in front of him. Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori will start at full-backs with William Saliba accompanying Gabriel Magalhaes in central defence.
Jorginho had an eventful opening half on Saturday. The Italian impressed with his distribution but was substituted at the break due to a booking. He could drop to the bench tonight alongside Mikel Merino.
Merino caught the eye with his late surging runs into the box. The duo are likely to be replaced by Thomas Partey and Declan Rice.
The latter was an unused substitute last weekend. He has been nursing a broken toe in recent weeks.
Gabriel Jesus lacked any attacking threat against Forest and should be dropped. He never looked like scoring and was guilty of losing possession several times.
Leandro Trossard fared better with his dribbling and chance creation from the left wing, but both are likely to be dropped.
Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli are expected to return to the starting XI, having played no part in the weekend’s victory over Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
The rest of the attack should stay unchanged. Bukayo Saka was sensational on the right wing on Saturday, bagging a goal and an assist.
Martin Odegaard was brilliant with his link-up play with Saka and should have got more than an assist for his splendid showing.
How Arsenal could line up vs Sporting CP
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
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