Mikel Arteta may be inclined to make wholesale changes when Arsenal face Lille in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
Mikel Arteta could make a few changes to his starting line-up when Arsenal face Lille in the UEFA Champions League. The Gunners will play just the second of nine games in just 28 days when they face Davide Ancelotti’s side at the Emirates Stadium, so there could be plenty of rotation to keep the big names fresh.
Speaking to reporters at the Sobha Realty Training Center on Monday afternoon, the Arsenal boss commented on the defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the final of the competition in May. Arteta said: “You will have to earn the right to get back into that position.
“We know how difficult it is and how many times we have done it in the history of our club. So first of all realize that and tomorrow we will face a really tough opponent.
“They are training very, very well. What Davide has done, I think, is remarkable. You can just see the way they compete and the way they play and the problems they bring to the big teams and tomorrow will be no different until we are ready for it.”
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So with that being said, journalists at football.london They have chosen the starting team to face “Lille”.
Ryan Taylor
David Raya simply needs to start in goal as Arsenal need to give themselves the best possible chance of qualifying for the top eight. Jurrien Timber then replaces Ben White on the right wing, while Cristhian Mosquera should start alongside Gabriel Magalhaes, although in my opinion he should be subbed after 60 minutes when the game is over.
Left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly starts while Riccardo Calafiori is rested after Piero Hincapie picked up an ankle injury. Martin Zubimendi would also be in line to start, but Bruno Guimaraes and Declan Rice got the nod.
Then in attack I would go with Noni Madueke on the right, Mikel Merino No.10 and Eberechi Eze on the left with Victor Gyokeres as striker. Max Dowman also deserves minutes after the game.
Ryan’s starting line-up: Raya; Wood, Mosquera, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Guimaraes; Madueke, Merinos, Eze; Gyokeres.
Jake Stokes
Not to say that David Raya should stay between the sticks. Unfortunately, neither Kepa Arrizabalaga nor Illan Meslier are at the level required to play for Arsenal, so Mikel Arteta must not change his goalkeeper if he is to secure automatic qualification via the top eight.
At the back, I wouldn’t be surprised if Cristhian Mosquera starts alongside Gabriel Magalhaes, Jurrien Timber replaces Ben White and Myles Lewis-Skelly fills in at left-back, giving Riccardo Calafiori a much-needed rest.
In the middle of the park, I think the Gunners boss will also rest one of Declan Rice or Martin Odegaard. Mikel Merino and Bruno Guimaraes, who did not start at the weekend, should start regardless.
Eberechi Eze has made just one start for Arsenal this season, against Ipswich Town in the Carabao Cup third round… Arteta told his pre-match press conference how he needs to earn his chance to play, so there’s no better time than Tuesday night as Christos Tzolis is still out and Bukayo Saka looks pretty tired.
Above, Victor Gokeres. Like Eze, he should start another game at some point; With so many matches to come, Arteta needs to rotate his squad to a) keep his big names fit and b) keep his outfielders happy!
Jake’s starting lineup: David Raya; Myles Lewis-Skelly, Gabriel Magalhaes, Cristhian Mosquera, Jurrien Timber; Mikel Merino, Bruno Guimaraes; Eberechi Eze, Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke; Victor Gokeres.