Arsenal host Real Madrid at the Emirates in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
The Gunners are eleven points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, and thus, attention has turned towards this tie for Mikel Arteta’s men.
Gabriel Magalhaes will miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury he sustained in last week’s win over Fulham, giving the Spaniard a huge team selection decision to make against Los Blancos.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid have injury issues of their own, with the likes of Aurelien Tchoumanei, Dani Ceballos and Ferland Mendy all ruled out.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Real Madrid
Arteta has a few options available to him regarding replacing Gabriel, with this decision the major talking point ahead of the clash with the European Champions.
Jakub Kiwior impressed against Everton on the weekend, and he’s the most likely candidate, although Arteta could call upon Ben White to slot in at the heart of the Gunners’ defence.
The rest of the back four picks itself, with William Saliba, Jurrien Timber and Myles Lewis-Skelly all nailed on starters.
In midfield, it’d be a surprise to see Arteta deviate from his first choice trio of Declan Rice, Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard, although there could be some concerns about the Ghanaian’s ability to track Jude Bellingham’s late runs into the box that prompt a rethink.
As for the front three, Bukayo Saka is expected to make his first start since returning from injury, with Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli likely to support him in the forward-line.
Leandro Trossard may be left on the bench, with the Belgian the most likely first substitute.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Real Madrid: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Merino, Martinelli.
Mikel Arteta should trust Jakub Kiwior to start against Real Madrid
Essentially, it’ll come down to picking Kiwior or White, and Arteta should go for the former.
No one would dispute that White is the better player, but he’s not necessarily a better left-sided centre-back, and he isn’t at full match fitness yet.
The Englishman looked rusty and lacking sharpness at Goodison Park, and Arsenal can’t afford to have a player not at 100% in their back-line against Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, Kiwior demonstrated that there are useful attributes in his game that the Gunners can take advantage of.
Exceptional on the ball and boasting an impressive range of passing, the Pole could be imperative to Arsenal’s ball progression.
While his defensive decision-making is questionable at times, Arteta must entrust the former Spezia man in this game.
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