Arsenal is scheduled to face the Athletic Club in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, with Mikel Arteta being required to adjust his starting XI with at least one forced change
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is looking to find a balance in the clashes at athletic clubs with the Champions League clashes approaching Premier League matches. Arteta’s team emerged as a 3-0 winner at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, boosting the league campaign heading into European competition mid-week.
The summer signing Martin Zubimendi was the star of the show, who scored twice, including a stunning volley from the edge of the box in the first half. Victor Gyoker scored the goal shortly after halftime extended the Gunners’ lead before Zubimendi was 3-0 on a strong header.
But not everything went smoothly on Saturday as captain Martin Odegard had to leave the pitch early in the first half due to a shoulder injury. Arteta could be worried about the fitness of the skipper ahead of their Champions League outings, but Zubimendi’s recent performance shows they have enough midfield depth.
Bukayosaka, Kai Herberts and Gabriel Jesus remain unavailable for Arsenal on Tuesday evening. In other words, Arteta relies on less seasoned stars to lead the offensive in European competition. Defender Ben White returned to the matchday team on Saturday after recovering from his injury and sat on the bench with new lender Piero Hincapee.
Midfield flagship Declan Rice came during a forest match. Christian Mosquera shines as he stepped into William Saliba in defense following a knock on the Frenchman’s ankle.
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Saturday’s Premier League fixture was a little too early, so Saliba was able to make a quicker comeback than expected after rejoining training on Friday. Speaking about Saliba and White availability before the forest collided, Arteta said:
The French defender is usually one of Arteta’s first picks on the team sheet, but his boss will likely be keeping an eye on Arsenal’s important encounter with Manchester City on Sunday. This suggests Gunners Gaffer will make a strategic choice to try and secure a victory on the slightly weakened side while still retaining a key Premier League star.
Therefore, Mosquera could hold his start stagnation against the Athletic Club on Tuesday. Odegaard doesn’t appear to be available at Tuesday’s meet, so Arteta may turn to Zubimendi to occupy the Norwegian role alongside Mikel Merino and Declan Rice.
There is a prospect that 15-year-old Max Dowman will break another milestone by becoming the youngest member of the Champions League in history. However, considering both Douman’s recent outstanding display as a gunner and his international mission with the UK, it is rare for Douman to nod before Madueke.
The backlines of Julientimber, Mosquera, Gabriel and Riccardo Calfioli probably won’t change to maintain stability within the team.
Looking forward to his trip to Bilbao, Arteta said: “I’m now preparing to win in Bilbao.
Discussing the impact of his fresh summer addition, the manager added:
“We tried to create the right environment for them, and the quality is there. We’re so happy that it’s already very early on. You can see that they add a lot of value to the team.”
While the majority of Arteta’s teams actually choose themselves, the Spaniards will consider shuffling several players to ensure there is an optimal opportunity to secure consecutive victories over the athletic club and City.
Rice is set to return to the starting lineup as Odegaard is on the sidelines due to a shoulder injury. Despite doubts about the potential squad choice, Madueke, Eze and Mosquera are expected to retain their team location as Arteta’s injuries issues continue to affect them.
XI’s launch against Arsenal’s predicted athletic club
(4-3-3) Raya; Wood, Mosquera, Gabriel, Carafioli. Rice, Zubimendi, Merino; Maduke, Gyokeres, Eze.
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