Arsenal played out a hard-fought draw against Manchester City on Sunday but they aren’t going to get any breathers because, in midweek, they take on Luton Town at home.
That draw vs MCFC meant the Gunners had to lose their top spot on the Premier League table to Liverpool but a win against Luton Town will get their title challenge back on track.
Arsenal are undefeated in their last 9 matches in the EPL while Luton have failed to win in their previous 9 outings in the league and Rob Edwards’s team will visit the Emirates Stadium with as many as 12 players missing with injuries This one should be a regulation win for Mikel Arteta but anything other than three points and Man City will catch up with them and even Aston Villa will be able to close the gap.
The Gunners matched Man City toe to toe at the weekend and the only way they drop points vs Luton is if get complacent and overconfident. Every game is like a final for Arsenal at this moment because Liverpool and Man City have already shifted to top gear.
Arsenal’s team news and injuries:
Jurrien Timber is the only injured player who is going to miss out and a fully fit squad is a big boost for Mikel Arteta at this business end of the season.
A fit squad means the Arsenal manager has the luxury to rest and rotate players and this will be very important because next week, the Gunners will return to the Champions League to face Bayern Munich.
Gabriel and William Saliba were absolutely superb on Sunday and the pair will hold onto their places but Arteta will rest Kiwior to bring Zinchenko back into the side.
Thomas Partey made an appearance after a really long time and a game against Luton is the ideal scenario to bring the midfield back into the fold. If Partey is starting then he is going to replace Jorginho.
Gabriel Jesus, quite surprisingly was chosen ahead of Martinelli in the 0-0 draw vs Man City but it’s highly unlikely that the Brazilian international will hold onto his place. Gabriel Martinelli and Trossard are the other choices to play out on the left flank.
There’s an option of using Jesus up front with Martinelli or Trossard as the left-winger but we think the Arsenal manager trusts Havertz much more.
Arsenal predicted line up vs Luton Town:
Predicted XI(4-3-3): Raya; Saliba, Gabriel, Ben White, Zinchenko; Jorginho/Partey, Declan Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.
