Arsenal will be aiming to seal the top spot in Group A of the Europa League when they travel to the Philips Stadium to face PSV Eindhoven on Thursday evening.
The Gunners currently sit on top of the standings with 12 points from four matches and have already qualified for the knockout rounds. They beat PSV Eindhoven 1-0 in the rearranged fixture at the Emirates Stadium last week thanks to a second-half strike from Granit Xhaka.
However, Mikel Arteta’s side travel to the Netherlands on the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw with Southampton at St. Mary’s in the Premier League and will be eager to return to winning ways.
Arsenal Team News
Oleksandr Zinchenko is still an injury concern for Arsenal, with the Ukrainian international struggling with a calf problem. In Emile Smith Rowe and Mohamed Elneny, Arsenal have two long-term absentees who are expected to remain sidelined for months.
Meanwhile, Marquinhos missed the training on Wednesday morning and is, therefore, a doubt for the Gunners.
Predicted Arsenal Lineup vs PSV Eindhoven (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper
Matt Turner has been Arsenal’s goalkeeper in cup competitions, repaying the manager’s faith with a couple of really good performances. He will start in between the sticks in the Arsenal lineup against PSV.
Defence
Mikel Arteta will rotate his squad as he has done for the Europa League games this term. Ahead of Turner, a back four of Takehiro Tomiyasu, Rob Holding, Gabriel Magalhaes and Kieran Tierney could start in the Arsenal lineup.
Holding will feature alongside Gabriel in central defence, while Tomiyasu and Tierney are likely to operate from the right-back and left-back positions, respectively in the Arsenal lineup.
Ben White and William Saliba will offer cover in defensive positions for the visitors.
Midfield
Albert Sambi Lokonga has majorly featured in the Europa League this term and is likely to be recalled into the Arsenal lineup. The Belgian will form the double pivot with Granit Xhaka, as the duo look to dominate the ball against PSV in the middle of the park.
Fabio Vieira should replace Martin Odegaard in the No.10 role in the Arsenal lineup, shouldering the creative burden of the team on the night. His positioning, movement and combination play in and around the box will be crucial in cutting open the PSV defence.
Attack
There will be rotations up ahead in attack as well, with Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah taking up their places on the right flank and in the No.9 role, respectively in the Arsenal lineup.
Gabriel Martinelli is likely to start as the left-winger, and will be hoping to combine well with Nketiah, Vieira and Saka in the final third and cause problems for the PSV defenders.
Arteta will have the likes of Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus to bring on off the bench in the latter stages of the game if required.