Arsenal will travel to the Estadi Montilivi on Wednesday evening to face Girona in the eighth and final group-stage game in this season’s UEFA Champions League.
The Gunners have enjoyed a fine Champions League campaign as they sit third in the table with 16 points from seven matches. They require only a point to secure direct qualification to the knockout rounds.
Mikel Arteta’s side will enter the contest on the back of a good run of form, winning two and drawing two in their last five games. The North Londoners beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 away last weekend in the Premier League to consolidate their second position in the table.
Arsenal Team News
Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino missed the Wolves fixture with illness and knock, respectively. Thus, the duo’s participation in the Champions League game at Girona remains doubtful.
Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu remain on the sidelines, while injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus have left Arsenal short in forward areas.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Girona (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
David Raya has been exceptional for Arsenal in the Champions League, keeping five clean sheets from seven games. He is a certainty to start in goal against Girona.
Defence
In front of Raya, Mikel Arteta could opt for a backline comprising Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Saliba returned from a minor injury on Saturday to partner Gabriel in central defence, and the duo did very well to keep a clean sheet against Wolves. They are set to resume their defensive partnership in midweek.
Lewis-Skelly was shown a straight red card in the first half against Wolves but he is eligible to face Girona in the continental competition. So, with the youngster suspended in the Premier League, Arteta will be raring to use him in this fixture ahead of Riccardo Calafiori at left-back. Meanwhile, Timber should retain his spot at right-back in the Arsenal lineup.
Midfield
Jorginho could come into the Arsenal lineup in midweek to try and bring some solidity to Arsenal’s midfield unit. The Italy international’s presence at the base of the midfield will allow the likes of Declan Rice and Thomas Partey to flourish as No.8s, with Odegaard and Merino’s participation doubtful as of Monday.
The aforementioned trio possess the mixture of technical skills, physicality and experience to dictate the tempo of play against a well-oiled Girona side. Young Ethan Nwaneri, who started in the 1-0 win over Wolves, is likely to drop to the bench.
Attack
Up front, Gabriel Martinelli will look to continue his good run of performances and will start on the right flank in the Arsenal lineup.
Leandro Trossard should slot in on the opposite flank, with Kai Havertz continuing up front in the injury-enforced absence of Gabriel Jesus.
