Arsene Wenger may not be at Arsenal next season but he does have a chance to have an impact on the club’s upcoming campaign as well. The Gunners are one of the favourites to go all the way in the Europa League this season, having set up a semi-final tie with Atletico Madrid, after beating CSKA Moscow and AC Milan in the last two rounds of the competition.
The Spanish giants dropped to the Europa League from UCL and beat Lokomotiv Moscow and Sporting CP to get to this stage. They are winless in their last two leagues games and aren’t in the best of form ahead of the key fixture. Arsenal beat West Ham 4-1 at the weekend and will hope to put in a similar performance in this tie.
Here is the predicted lineup that Wenger might field for this first tie:
Team News
Mesut Ozil missed the game against West Ham at the weekend but is expected to be back in action against Atleti. Star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is cup-tied and will only be a spectator. Mohamed Elneny and Santo Cazorla are long-term absentees while Jack Wilshere will undergo a late fitness test and is expected to be fit. Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Sead Kolasinac are on the path to full fitness but will play no role in this game.
Expected lineup (4-2-3-1)
Defence
David Ospina has been a regular in the first team recently and is expected to continue in goal. Wenger will bank upon his first-team centre-back partnership of Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi, both of who have not been consistent enough this season.
Hector Bellerin is the best option for Wenger at right-back while Nacho Monreal remains the only option in the absence of Kolasinac at left-back for this game.
Midfield
The absence of Elneny will mean Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka are automatic choices in this role for Arsenal. Both players will have a busy game against a well drilled Atleti side.
Attack
Jack Wilshere will be crucial for Arsenal but he is doubtful, giving Alex Iwobi a chance to make it to the starting XI for this first leg. He will play on the right flank while Danny Welbeck will have to provide width on the left side of the attack for Arsenal.
Alexandre Lacazette is back among the goals recently and will be the danger man for the La Liga outfit in this game.