Emile Smith Rowe is back in the starting XI while Granit Xhaka is retained at left-back as Arsenal get ready to take on Slavia Prague in the UEFA Europa League.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has made just the one change to the lineup that started at the weekend against Sheffield United for their UEFA Europa League quarter-final second leg tie against Slavia Prague.
The change comes in the attacking third where Emile Smith Rowe is back into the side after having missed the last game due to injury. He replaces Gabriel Martinelli in the lineup and slots in as the No. 10 with Bukayo Saka moving out wide to the left flank. Nicolas Pepe is retained on the right-wing by Arsenal.
? Tonight's team news…
??????? @EmileSmithRowe starts
?? Granit Xhaka at left back
?? @LacazetteAlex leads the line? #UEL
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 15, 2021
Upfront, Alexandre Lacazette continues as the lone striker following his brace against the Blades. Club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang misses out due to illness yet again. Folarin Balogun, who finally signed a new contract with the club, is an option on the bench. Thomas Partey and Dani Ceballos occupy the pivot positions in midfield.
Moving back to the defence, there are no changes made as Calum Chambers continues at right-back ahead of Hector Bellerin while Rob Holding and Pablo Mari form the centre-back pairing again. Granit Xhaka has once again been picked as the left-back over Cedric Soares in Kieran Tierney’s absence, with Bernd Leno lining up in goal.
Arsenal Starting Lineup: Leno, Chambers, Holding, Mari, Xhaka, Partey, Ceballos, Pepe, Smith Rowe, Saka, Lacazette.
