Arsenal are now just a few hours away from returning to Europa League action as they take on Sporting CP in the last-16 first leg. For one of the first times in the 2022/23 season, predicting Mikel Arteta's starting XI for the clash feels virtually impossible such is the competition for places now in the Gunners squad.
Some mainstays in the first-team squad have let performances dip slightly, most notably Granit Xhaka, who has struggled to match his impact in the final third pre-World Cup in recent months. Fringe players such as Takehiro Tomiyasu and Emile Smith Rowe have also seen limited minutes with injuries and the form of others affecting their campaigns.
Both Smith Rowe and Tomiyasu were unable to offer Arteta a valid reason to change his main starting XI against Bournemouth, but Reiss Nelson certainly made a case. Coming on with 20 minutes to go, Nelson set up White for the equaliser and then scored a dramatic late winner to seal a vital three points in the Premier League title race.
