Arsenal travel to Belgium to face Club Brugge at the Jan Breydel Stadium on Wednesday at 8pm.
It’s a Champions League battle between two sides chasing very different objectives.
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Club Brugge
Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; White, Calafiori, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Nwaneri, Norgaard, Eze; Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
Club Brugge need points to climb into the top 24. But Mikel Arteta’s men boast a perfect record in this season’s group stage. They can effectively seal a last-16 place with victory in Bruges, with the game live on TNT Sports 2.
Arsenal team news vs Club Brugge
Arsenal make the trip across the English Channel with defensive issues still dominating Arteta’s selection thoughts.
Centre-backs Gabriel and Cristhian Mosquera are both sidelined. The former is nursing a thigh problem from international duty, while the latter has been ruled out for several weeks with an ankle injury sustained in the recent win over Brentford.
William Saliba is classed as a major doubt after missing three matches with a training ground knock, and now Riccardo Calafiori has emerged as a fresh concern.
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The Italian would probably be in line to start instead of Jurrien Timber, at centre-back if his injury issue isn’t serious enough to keep him out. Calafiori is suspended for this weekend’s Premier League action, giving more reason to rest others.
So, the door opens for Myles Lewis-Kelly to come in at left-back, with Piero Hincapie in the centre and Ben White on the right. David Raya should retain his place in goal as Arteta seeks stability behind a reshuffled backline.
Further forward, Arsenal are in a stronger position. However, Kai Havertz is ruled out by a knee problem that is likely to keep him sidelined until later in the month.
Declan Rice has not travelled due to illness, while Martin Zubimendi is expected to be rested after heavy workloads. Christian Norgaard and highly-rated youngster Ethan Nwaneri are teipped to benefit from rotation in midfield, playing alongside Eberechi Eze.
In attack, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli are expected to flank Viktor Gyokeres. Bukayo Saka is among those who could be managed carefully during a congested period.
Arsenal’s ongoing issue
Arsenal’s defensive injury situation — and how it could impact their progress over a busy Christmas period — is a major talking point right now.
The Gunners have been unable to field both of their first-choice centre-backs for the last three games. Their depth in the position is now being further tested by an injury to Mosquera.
Despite that, Arteta fielded a back four of players accustomed to playing in the centre against Aston Villa on Saturday with White on the right and Calafiori on the left. Marli Salmon, a 16-year-old Hale End academy starlet, was named on the bench as cover. But you suspect Arteta would have brought Lewis-Skelly on and switched Calafiori into the middle if either of his central defensive selections were forced off.
Rice could also play there at a pinch, having started his career as a centre-back. However, Arsenal would not want to lose his combativity and authority in the middle of the park.
Returning from Belgium without any further defensive injuries may be more important than all three points to Arteta. Especially given Calafiori’s Premier League suspension.