Arsenal take on Slavia Prague in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.
The Gunners are six points clear at the top of the Premier League, and have a crucial clash with Sunderland to come on the weekend, which could prompt Mikel Arteta to rotate in the Czech capital.
Arteta’s side thrashed Atletico Madrid in their last European outing to secure their third win from three games in the competition, meaning they’re already in a strong position to qualify in the top eight of the League Phase.
That said, the Spaniard’s squad is looking stretched due to injuries, and he may therefore not have too much scope to make changes in certain positions.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Slavia Prague
Arteta has a number of injury issues to contend with ahead of the clash in Prague.
Martin Odegaard remains sidelined with an MCL injury, while Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are still unavailable due to various fitness issues.
Meanwhile, Viktor Gyokeres was forced off at half-time of Arsenal’s game against Burnley on Saturday, and Gabriel Martinelli remains a doubt.
On top of all this, Martin Zubimendi is suspended after picking up three Champions League yellow cards already this season.
This creates issues for Arteta in midfield and up front. While a candidate to replace Gyokeres, Mikel Merino was poor as a striker against Burnley, and Arteta may rather use him to replace Zubimendi in midfield in this game.
That leaves Leandro Trossard as the only real striker option, which creates a vacancy on the left wing that will have to be filled by Eberechi Eze if Martinelli isn’t fit.
That should allow Ethan Nwaneri to start in midfield alongside Rice and Merino.
As for the back four, both full-backs could be rested – a ploy Arteta opted for against Olympiacos back in October. This should give Ben White and Myles Lewis-Skelly some much-needed minutes.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Slavia Prague: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Merino, Nwaneri, Saka, Trossard, Eze.
Max Dowman could make Champions League debut vs Slavia Prague
If Nwaneri, Saka, Trossard and Eze all start, it’ll likely be because neither Gyokeres nor Martinelli are fit.
This would leave Arteta with no senior attacking options on the bench, although Max Dowman will likely be in the squad that travels to the Czech Republic.
As the only offensive option on the bench, it’s very possible that Dowman will make his Champions League debut against Slavia Prague.
If Saka is tiring or in need of a rest, or Nwaneri isn’t delivering, then Arteta could certainly call on the 15-year-old to make an impact.
Dowman would become the youngest player to ever play in the Champions League if this were to happen, beating Youssoufa Moukoko, who made his debut in the competition for Borussia Dortmund at the age of 16 years and 18 days in 2020.
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