Arteta makes 6 changes | Predicted Arsenal XI vs Inter Milan as £13m star returns
Arsenal will be aiming to return to winning ways when they take on Inter Milan on the road in the Champions League tonight.
The Gunners have already cemented their berth in the knockout stage of the elite club competition with 18 points from six games.
However, the club still require one point to guarantee a round of 16 spot and avoid a knockout play-off round.
It appears to be a formality, with a winnable fixture against Kairat Almaty at home on the eighth matchday of the league phase.
Still, manager Mikel Arteta should field a strong starting XI. We don’t anticipate more than six changes from the goalless Premier League draw at Nottingham Forest.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Predicted Line-up:
Spanish goalkeeper David Raya has been ever-present in the Premier League and Champions League matches this season. He has kept five clean sheets in Europe and will be eyeing another shutout.
There could be a couple of changes in the backline. Jurrien Timber has had a heavy workload in recent months and could make way for Myles Lewis-Skelly in the left-back position tonight.
Lewis-Skelly has been the regular left-back in the Champions League for the Gunners this season, with four starts. The Englishman has the opportunity to impress the manager ahead of Sunday’s big Premier League clash against Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium.
William Saliba was completely rested for the FA Cup third round win over Portsmouth this month, and it could be Gabriel Magalhaes’ turn. The Brazilian could come on as a substitute. We anticipate Cristhian Mosquera to make his injury comeback from the left centre-back role.
The £13 million signing looks poised to make his first start since early December when he picked up an ankle injury against Brentford. Mosquera should line up alongside Saliba. Ben White is likely to continue from the right-back position.
Further forward, one of Martin Zubimendi or Declan Rice could be rested rather than both. Rice could be the player, having featured for the full 90 minutes against Forest away from home. Mikel Merino is likely to partner his former Real Sociedad teammate in the heart of the midfield tonight.
Eberechi Eze has recently been out of contention for a Premier League starting spot but has started in other competitions. The 27-year-old could get the nod over Martin Odegaard in the number 10 role. The club captain had an off day against Forest before his early 57th-minute substitution.
In the final third, Noni Madueke could continue on the right wing after a lively outing against the Tricky Trees. He was unlucky not to register an assist. Arteta said that Bukayo Saka was carrying a niggle in the lead-up to that game. He could come on as a second-half substitute for Madueke, who has netted thrice in his last two European outings.
There could be changes elsewhere in attack. Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli missed big chances to convert against Sean Dyche’s side. Martinelli could be replaced by Leandro Trossard on the left wing despite him scoring in five consecutive Champions League matches this season.
Gabriel Jesus was present in the press conference with Arteta on Monday evening. It is probably a huge hint that the Brazilian will lead the line ahead of Gyokeres and Kai Havertz against the Nerazzurri.
How Arsenal could line up vs Inter Milan tonight
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