Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta faces a huge decision over his team selection when welcoming PSG to the Emirates Stadium in the Champions League first leg.
The match is set to be one of the biggest of the season for the Gunners, who know there is an opportunity to make it all the way in Europe’s top competition.
With a fired-up Emirates Stadium crowd ready to push Arsenal onto the final step, there is one dilemma facing the team.
Mikel Arteta now has to deal with a replacement for the suspended Thomas Partey, who will miss out on the clash.
While it remains to be seen who the manager will pick, he may well have hinted at his team for Arsenal vs PSG already.
Mikel Arteta has already replaced Thomas Partey with Mikel Merino this season at Arsenal
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has had a few weeks to think about how he may replace Thomas Partey in his team to take on PSG for the first leg of the Champions League semi-final.
The midfielder is suspended after picking up a caution late on against Real Madrid, with Jamie Carragher calling Thomas Partey “daft” for the moment of madness that led to it.
In the two matches since, Arteta has played one without Partey, giving a glimpse into the team he could select.
Coming in Arsenal’s thrashing of Ipswich, the manager opted for Mikel Merino to take his place in the midfield three.
The Spaniard is a natural midfielder, despite playing more recently as a striker, but Arteta backed his ability in the central areas.
Speaking after the win over Ipswich, he said: “That’s where he’s [Merino] played his whole career! But obviously we have a very short memory sometimes, and we see him as a nine, and it was almost strange to see him in midfield – I think he did really well.”
It shows the faith held in Merino, but it would mean another reshuffle in the forward areas to take on PSG.
Leandro Trossard set for striker opportunity against PSG
If there’s one player who deserves a shot at centre-forward if there is a reshuffle, then it’s Leandro Trossard after an impressive run of form.
Having scored three goals in his last two starts, Mikel Arteta could look to start the Belgian up front.
He did so against Ipswich when moving Merino into midfield, scoring twice in that match to show his ability.
“He’s certainly ready to play in any position,” Arteta said when asked if Trossard could play as a striker against PSG.
“We have to make certain adjustments, not because of PSG, but because of the situation we had as well with Thomas [Partey] and a few other players.
“But that’s good because the team shows adaptability and versatility for certain players to play in different positions. That’s very much needed, especially when we have the numbers we have at the moment.”
It’s something the star has experience of, and having recently played there, it could be a hint at the possibility of another start for Trossard.
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