Arsenal shift their focus to the Champions League as they prepare for the visit of PSV Eindhoven to the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The Gunners edged past Everton 1-0 at Goodison Park on Sunday, with Leandro Trossard scoring the all-important winner to ensure Mikel Arteta’s men continued their unbeaten start to the 2023/24 Premier League season. Arteta would have been pleased with the team’s gritty win at Everton but must now balance their European campaign with trying to keep pace with Man City in the Premier League.
Having returned to the Champions League for the first time since 2017, the north Londoners will be keen to get off to a winning start against PSV Eindhoven, who head to the Emirates Stadium off the back of a 4-0 victory over NEC in the Eredivisie.
Arsenal Team News
Gabriel Martinelli picked up an injury concern during the win over Everton and is a doubt for Arsenal’s Champions League group-stage opener against PSV, while Thomas Partey is still not fit after a recent groin injury.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Elneny and Jurrien Timber are long-term absentees.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs PSV Eindhoven (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
David Raya made his Arsenal debut in the 1-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park. The Spaniard was a mere spectator for the majority of the game and kept a clean sheet, thus, bolstering his chances of starting again in goal ahead of Aaron Ramsdale.
Defence
Likely to shape up in a 4-3-3 formation again, Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko will be deployed as the full-backs, and they will look to create goal-scoring opportunities and add width to the side along with fulfilling their defensive tasks.
William Saliba will partner Gabriel Magalhaes at the heart of the Arsenal defence again, with Jakub Kiwior and Takehiro Tomiyasu adding cover for defensive positions from the bench.
Midfield
In the midfield, Declan Rice will hold the fort, and he will look to break up the opposition attacks along with controlling the tempo of play. Martin Odegaard and Fabio Vieira will start alongside Rice, adding energy, creativity and dynamism to the Gunners’ engine room.
The trio of Rice, Vieira and Odegaard must function very well if the hosts are the dominate the midfield battles against PSV. Kai Havertz, who came on as a second-half substitute against Everton, will again have to be content with a role on the bench.
Attack
Leandro Trossard came on for the injured Gabriel Martinelli in the first half against Everton and enjoyed another solid outing, with the Belgian’s left-footed strike after the break proving to be the difference between both sides. The Belgian is a certainty to start on the left in the injury absence of Martinelli, while Bukayo Saka keeps his place on the right flank.
Gabriel Jesus will be hoping to make his first start of the season. The Brazilian could be handed an opportunity to lead the Arsenal attack at the expense of Eddie Nketiah.
