Arsenal take on Sporting CP in the Europa League this week and because the first leg ended in a 2-2 draw, the Gunners cannot afford to take a breather.
Arsenal’s Premier League campaign is going really strong as they continue to pick up wins every weekend and with the kind of form they are in right now, Arteta’s boys are also one of the favourites to win the UEL.
Sporting are in top form themselves as they are unbeaten in their previous seven matches but because the Gunners are playing at home on Thursday, they are should progress to the next round without any major problems.
Just three days after the second leg, Arsenal will take on Crystal Palace in the EPL and Mikel Arteta will have one eye on that match because winning the league is their priority. This might force the manager to make a few changes to his usual line up.
Arsenal’s team news and possible rotations:
Jakub Kiwior replaced Gabriel in the first leg and even though he was really poor in that match, we are likely to see the same rotation this week as well.
Ben White had an underwhelming game against Fulham on Sunday and he should make way for Tomiyasu on the right-hand side of defence.
The Arsenal manager would love to rest Martin Odegaard because the Norwegian is his only true playmaker but with the tie balanced at 2-2, we don’t think Arteta will be brave enough to take such a call.
Odegaard will play as the No 10 with Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka operating in a more central role.
Trossard provided all three assists on Sunday while Martinelli scored a goal and both of them are in line to start. However, Bukayo Saka is playing back-to-back games so he could be rested.
Gabriel Jesus returned from injury and played 13-odd minutes on Sunday and this is perhaps the biggest positive for Mikel Arteta.
Jesus’ fitness comes right when Eddie Nketiah picked up an injury but there’s very little chance that the Brazilian international will get a start on Thursday. He will be slowly brought back into the side and against Sporting, he will come off the bench again.
Arsenal predicted line up vs Sporting CP:
Predicted Starting Line up(4-3-3): Ramsdale; Zinchenko, Saliba, Kiwior, Tomiyasu; Xhaka, Thomas Partey, Odegaard; Martinelli, Nelson/Saka, Trossard.
