Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Arsenal could line up for Wednesday’s Champions League Group B clash with PSV Eindhoven.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is sweating over the fitness of Gabriel Martinelli ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League Group B opener against PSV Eindhoven in North London.
The Brazilian suffered a hamstring problem while racing through to score against Everton at the weekend, but his injury was ultimately for nothing as the goal was chalked off for offside.
Martinelli will be assessed in the coming hours, but it is difficult to envisage the attacker making a rapid recovery in time for Wednesday, where none of Thomas Partey (groin), Jurrien Timber and Mohamed Elneny (both knee) will be involved either.
However, Martinelli’s replacement Leandro Trossard scored the goal that ended Arsenal’s miserable winless streak at Goodison Park, and the Belgian has surely played his way into the first XI for the visit of PSV.
A fully-fit Gabriel Jesus might also be brought in over Eddie Nketiah, who struggled to make an impact at the weekend, but there is unlikely to be any respite for Bukayo Saka on the right.
Jorginho and Kai Havertz arrived at Arsenal with Champions League winners’ medals in their suitcases, but the former Chelsea pair could be consigned to the bench again, as Fabio Vieira continues alongside Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice in a midfield three.
Gabriel Magalhaes battled back from an injury scare to start alongside William Saliba at Goodison, and the Brazilian ought to link up with Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko in an unaltered backline.
The goalkeeping spot is clouded in uncertainty, though, as David Raya was brought in for his debut on Sunday and did not put a foot wrong, but Aaron Ramsdale may return after Arteta hinted that he would be prepared to rotate his shot-stoppers.
Arsenal possible starting lineup: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Vieira; Saka, Jesus, Trossard
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