‘Outstanding’ Arsenal player has to start against Porto next week after Monday’s brilliance

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Although Mikel Arteta still has a tricky tie against Brentford to navigate this weekend, he must have one eye on Arsenal’s upcoming FC Porto tie.

Having lost the first leg 1-0 in Portugal, Arsenal face an uphill battle at the Emirates, and Arteta will need to get his team selection spot on.

Of course, given how well Arsenal have played on the whole since the turn of the year, there’s every reason to think the Spaniard will.

Arsenal are dispatching teams with ease in the league right now, and fans will be hoping that facing Porto at the Emirates will be a whole different story.

That being said, it seems as if one player may have firmly booked his spot in that starting side following his display against Sheffield United.

Before the season started it would have been unthinkable for Gabriel Jesus to remain on the bench via a tactical decision.

But with the Brazilian now gaining fitness, it seems that Kai Havertz was simply preferred as a false nine last night.

Yes, Arteta will have recognised the chance to ease Jesus back in with further time as a sub, but he equally could have started the striker if he pleased.

Mikel Arteta must start Kai Havertz in Arsenal’s second leg against Porto

Whether it’s as a false nine, where Havertz now looks best for Arsenal, or in the number eight, Arteta simply has to start his key man against Porto.

And in truth, he’s probably not considering any combinations without the German.

There will obviously be the temptation to start either Jorginho or Thomas Partey in the pivot against Porto to gain better control of the game. 

And if that is the case then Declan Rice will move to the left central midfield position – presenting just one spot for the likes of the ‘outstanding’ Havertz, Jesus and Leandro Trossard.

Moreover, as crazy as it may seem, that probably should result in Jesus being saved as an impact sub in that scenario.

Although, my preference would certainly be to attack the game with Rice at the six, Havertz at eight and Jesus playing up top.

All that being said Gilberto Silva has now been encouraging Arsenal to sign a new £100m midfielder in the summer, which would definitely shake up the starting eleven next season.