Arsenal will finally lock horns with PSV Eindhoven at the Emirates Stadium in a Europa League fixture that had to be postponed following the demise of Queen Elizabeth II at the start of September.
The Gunners are sitting pretty at the top of Group A with three wins in as many games. They edged past Bodo/Glimt 1-0 in Norway last week with Bukayo Saka’s first-half strike being the difference.
Mikel Arteta’s team are in sublime form and head into the rearranged European fixture on Thursday off the back of a 1-0 away win over Leeds United in the Premier League.
Arsenal Team News
Oleksandr Zinchenko was still absent for Arsenal against Leeds United and his availability in midweek remains a big doubt. Gabriel Martinelli missed Wednesday’s training session with a reported calf problem and could miss out against PSV.
Meanwhile, Emile Smith Rowe and Mohamed Elneny remain long-term absentees for Arsenal.
Predicted Arsenal Lineup vs PSV Eindhoven (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper
Mikel Arteta will rotate his squad once again on Thursday, but he might go in with a relatively strong Arsenal lineup to seal the group with two games to spare. However, that won’t harm Matt Turner’s chances of making his fourth consecutive start in goal in the Europa League.
Defence
In front of Turner, Arteta could select a back four of Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White, Rob Holding and Kieran Tierney in the Arsenal lineup. White and Holding will start in central defence, hoping to keep Cody Gakpo quiet on the night.
Tomiyasu should start at right-back, with Tierney operating from the other side of the defence in the Arsenal lineup.
William Saliba, Gabriel and Cedric Soares will offer cover in defensive positions for Arsenal.
Midfield
Changes are expected in midfield too, with Thomas Partey possibly dropping out for Albert Sambi Lokonga. Lokonga is a certainty to start having not enjoyed much Premier League action this season, and the Belgian will look to take his chances in the Europa League with both hands.
He will partner Granit Xhaka in the middle of the park, as the duo try to take control of the game from the first blow of the whistle against PSV.
Fabio Vieira has impressed in the opportunities he has got so far, providing creativity and flair in the final third. He should start in the No.10 role in the Arsenal lineup.
Attack
Eddie Nketiah has performed well in the Europa League, and with two goals and an assist in three games, he has staked his claim for another start up front.
Marquinhos and Bukayo Saka will look to support Nketiah from the wide areas, hoping to use their pace, energy and inventiveness to unlock the PSV defence.
If required, Arteta can bring on the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Martin Odegaard and Thomas Partey to change the course of the game.