Arsenal will be looking to secure their spot in the Champions League semi-finals when they host Sporting CP on Wednesday at 8pm.
The Gunners take a slender 1-0 lead into the second leg at the Emirates, after Kai Havertz’s injury-time winner in Lisbon last week.
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Sporting CP
Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard.
Mikel Arteta’s men did not have the best preparation for this game, seeing his side beaten 2-1 at home by Bournemouth in the Premier League at the weekend.
Arsenal team news vs Sporting CP
Arteta made some changes for the defeat to Bournemouth at the weekend, some of which were forced, while others had this game in mind. The Spaniard will hope to have as full-strength a squad as possible for this crucial game.
Bukayo Saka, Riccardo Calafiori, Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber all missed the defeat to Bournemouth. But they are all expected to be available for seletion, with Arteta possibly being cautious at the weekend.
And all four should start, bringing Arsenal back to their favourable lineup and system. Mikel Merino is the only confirmed absentee, and he may not return before the season is up.
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Gabriel Martinelli and Havertz will have to make do with a spot on the bench despite their game-winning combination in the first leg. Leandro Trossard and Odegaard should come in to replace them, with the Norwegian dropping deeper into a midfield three.
Saka should start on the right ahead of Noni Madueke, with Timber replacing Ben White behind him. Calafiori will come in for Myles Lewis-Skelly, who started the game at the weekend — ahead of a returning Piero Hincapie.
Viktor Gyokeres will lead the line, with Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi joining Odegaard in midfield. The core defence should remain the same too, with David Raya protected by Gabriel and William Saliba..
Make or break for Arsenal
Just under a month ago, Arsenal were still on course for a Quadruple. Now, a double is on the line. On paper, Arsenal are in a good position. They remain six points clear at the top of the Premier League, albeit having played a game more. And they take a lead into the Champions League quarter-final second leg.
The Gunners have lost just one of their last 23 European home games. And that came to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain in last season’s semi-finals. Arsenal also have a good record when winning the first leg of a two-legged knockout stage tie away from home in Europe.
Arsenal have advanced in 19 of the 20 European two-legged knockout ties they have gone into a home second leg in the lead. Their only failure came in 2019-20 when they were beaten by Olympiacos on away goals in the Europa League — winning 1-0 away but losing 2-1 at home.
But there will be a mental barrier for Arsenal to overcome. Their trophy charge has shown signs of weakness with recent defeats. And the fans have been getting on their backs for underwhelming performances. This game feels must-win for more reasons than one.