Mikel Arteta has very little choice but to start Max Dowman against Sporting CP after Bukayo Saka misses Arsenal training.
Saka missed Arsenal training ahead of Sporting CP and now looks unlikely to feature in the Champions League quarter-final clash.
TRUE or FALSE: Arsenal WILL NOT beat Sporting CP without Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka…
Meanwhile, during the weekend’s defeat to Bournemouth, Noni Madueke looked so poor, and Arteta cannot afford to keep him in the team.
Now is the time for the Spanish manager to make the brave decision to start the 16-year-old talent in a must-win game for the Gunners.
Max Dowman must start for Arsenal vs Sporting CP
It is now time for Mikel Arteta to start showing some bravery and hand Max Dowman his second Champions League start against Sporting CP.
Bukayo Saka being unavailable again leaves the North London club in a very worrying position in attack, as right now, Madueke looks well off the pace.
Madueke was shocking against Bournemouth, as the winger completed just nine passes and one dribble in 54 minutes against the Cherries.
It is time for the former Chelsea star to be dropped and Dowman to be given his chance to start in a huge game for Arsenal.
Sporting will have their captain, Morten Hjulmand, back for the return leg and should be more of a threat in North London.
Therefore, with Arteta’s team only leading the tie 1-0, they will need to be more threatening in attack and cannot afford Madueke to be playing as poorly as he has done over recent weeks.
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In Dowman, Arteta has a real wildcard to throw into the team for situations like this, and now is the time for him to play it.
Aside from obviously wanting to progress into the semis, Arsenal cannot afford another bad result or risk making the mood seriously bad.
Arsenal face the biggest match they have played in decades this weekend as they travel to face Manchester City in a title-deciding game.
Suffering another bad result here is simply unacceptable, but Dowman could be the difference maker against Sporting.
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