Arsenal head into their first European game of the season with optimism despite the defeat to Manchester United at the weekend. Plenty of positives can be taken away from the display at Old Trafford, and now it must all be about bouncing back strongly.
Perhaps the biggest concern of all is the injuries which Mikel Arteta currently finds himself dealing with. Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny have been out of action for the last couple of weeks, with the latter expected to be on the sidelines for months. Those injury woes were added to on Sunday after Emile Smith Rowe appeared to pull up with a problem during the warm-down session before heading down the tunnel with the coaching staff early.
It's not currently known what the issue is and if it's anything to worry about, though Arteta will no doubt provide an update in tomorrow's press conference. As much as the injury setbacks are frustrating and far from ideal, it's just as well the club strengthened depth to a certain extent in the summer.
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You could argue that the squad is still one midfielder and forward short from being pretty much spot on, but the additions of Fabio Vieira and Marquinhos, in particular, can go a long way in helping Arteta overcome these issues for the time being. Vieira offers plenty of versatility, capable of playing as both a No.6 and No.10 in midfield and even out on the right flank as a winger.
The Portugal U21 international spent most of pre-season recovering from an injury but made his long-awaited debut from the bench at the weekend, which has left fans wanting more after an encouraging cameo. It's likely to have impressed Arteta too, who will be looking to make some changes against FC Zurich on Thursday and Vieira's availability can ensure players get some well-earned rest ahead of a busy fixture schedule.
Martin Odegaard seems the most natural choice to make way for him, though there also could be a temptation to place Vieira in central midfield alongside Sambi Lokonga. A bit of a selection headache for Arteta but a good one to have, nonetheless. Of course, he could also start ahead of Bukayo Saka, but that is where Marquinhos comes in.
Despite involvement in the pre-season tour and regular training sessions with the first team, the young Brazilian found himself starting off the season for the Arsenal U21s. His talent and potential were soon clear for all to see after scoring three goals and providing one assist in three games. A combination of his displays and Nicolas Pepe's departure have eventually seen the 19-year-old make Arteta's matchday squad in recent weeks.
Unlike Vieira, Marquinhos still finds himself waiting for his senior Arsenal debut, but again, Thursday's Europa League clash could be the perfect opportunity for him to make his mark. There's no doubting the importance of Saka's presence and quality within this Arsenal team, but fears over his playing time have continued to mount. Arteta may not be able to remove those fears altogether, but he can at least ease them by bringing Marquinhos into the side.
Saka, who only just turned 21 yesterday, was the only Arsenal player to feature in all 38 Premier League matches last season. The England international started 36 of those games, and he has already started in all six league fixtures so far this season, too, so the chance for him to sit out couldn't have come at a better time.
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