Arsenal take on Sporting CP in a Europa League last-16 first leg this evening (Thursday).
The Gunners head into the clash off the back of four consecutive Premier League victories which has placed their title hopes back into their own hands after a minor blip. For at least two of the next seven days though, Mikel Arteta's focus will be on the Europa League and specifically Sporting CP with the second leg set for the following Thursday at Emirates Stadium.
In the jubilation of the late victory over Bournemouth, it was potentially lost on many that Leandro Trossard suffered an injury while Eddie Nketiah missed the clash entirely. Reiss Nelson was able to step up in their absence but it presents Arteta with fresh problems in attack where injuries have already plagued two of his key players.
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Gabriel Jesus and Emile Smith Rowe have missed large parts of the campaign through injury, but the latter returned for a brief cameo against Everton and the good news continued as Arsenal welcomed Jesus back to full first-team training earlier this week.
With so much doubt surrounding who is available for the game, team news was high on the agenda in Arteta's pre-match press conference, but the Spaniard was intent on giving nothing away.
He said: "News on the squad will be tomorrow (Thursday). We have brought a few players and you will see tomorrow who is available." Asked specifically about Kieran Tierney, Trossard and Nketiah, he replied: "Let’s see how they evolve. Obviously we’ve had a few issues in the last few days and I am trying to accommodate everybody and get everyone in the best possible condition for tomorrow."
Tierney, Nketiah, Trossard and Jesus could all feature but it is highly unlikely all four will play in Portugal. Tierney started every Europa League group game, but if he is unavailable Takehiro Tomiyasu, who has filled in at left-back multiple times this season, could start instead.
Several doubts in attack could give great opportunities to Nelson and Smith Rowe if Arteta also opts to rest the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka. Meanwhile, Fabio Vieira could earn back-to-back starts for the first time since his summer move, with his experience playing for Porto against Sporting likely to prove invaluable.
With all that being said, football.london takes a look at the full squad the north Londoners are expected to name for the trip to Sporting.
Goalkeepers: Aaron Ramsdale, Matt Turner, James Hillson.
Defenders: Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Rob Holding, Jakub Kiwior, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney (doubt).
Midfielders: Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard, Fabio Vieira, Jorginho, Granit Xhaka, Matt Smith.
Forwards: Gabriel Jesus (doubt), Emile Smith Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli, Eddie Nketiah (doubt), Reiss Nelson, Leandro Trossard (doubt).
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