Mikel Arteta says Arsenal’s fitness woes and his desire for squad unity led to him taking a strong squad to PSV Eindhoven for their dead-rubber Champions League clash.
Arsenal are without five first-team players and have taken three academy players to the Netherlands.
Attacking midfielder Ethan Nwaneri, defender Reuell Walters and full-back Lino Sousa have all travelled and the latter two could make their debuts.
Arteta has also brought the rest of his first-team squad, though, and that includes Bukayo Saka, who did not train on Monday morning due to a knock to his foot.
Tuesday’s match in Eindhoven is meaningless, with Arsenal confirmed as Group B winners and PSV already through to the knockout stage in second place.
“We have five or six big injuries so we are already a bit thin,” said Arteta.
“I don’t know in another context what I would have done, but I also want everyone together with the mentality to win. I want to see that in their tummies tomorrow.
“The job technically is done, but the job is not completely done. It is our duty as representatives of Arsenal to win every game and to give a big performance against a team that is going to make things very difficult as they have shown the past two years.”
Arteta was quick to cool any fears of an injury to Saka, adding: “He is fine.
“With a few of them we decided to have another day recovery just 48 hours before and he has played a lot of minutes so it wasn’t worth exposing him [to training on Monday].”
Arsenal are expected to field a rotated side against PSV, with the likes of Jorginho and Leandro Trossard due to start.
The three academy players will most likely have to settle for minutes off the bench, with Arteta singing the praises of Nwaneri.
“Something unique that he’s got that I really liked from the beginning is his ability to take the ball in tight areas, to escape a little bit like Jack Wilshere used to do,” he said.
“The personality he has he trains with us like he trains with the under-18s, under-16s. And I love that in a player.
“He’s got that thing between his teeth as well that he wants to show every single day how good he is and impress people.
“When you have someone like that you have to give him hope and as well.
“It was a really important moment for us because we really wanted to keep him. I think it was a strong sign for him (making his Premier League debut) that this was his place to keep developing.”
Emile Smith Rowe has also travelled to Eindhoven and he could make his first appearance since injuring his knee in October.
The attacking midfielder has had to battle fitness issues for the last two years, but Arteta thinks it will make him stronger.
“I think what he’s been through is part of the experience that 90 per cent of footballers have to go through, which is difficulties, injuries, setbacks and different types of performances now,” he said.
“That’s all in his bag now. If he can use that in a powerful way he’ll be a much better player. The way he’s done his rehab I haven’t seen him do it before like how he’s done it this time.
“You see the way his teammates reacted to his comeback which is really positive as well. The moment we can give him chances the better we’re going to be.”
