Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe are in line to return while Bukayo Saka will miss out when Arsenal face Olympiacos on Thursday.
Arsenal will be aiming to book their place in the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals when they play hosts to Olympiacos at the Emirates in the Round of 16 second leg on Thursday. And, Mikel Arteta has one fresh injury concern to deal with ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Bukayo Saka is expected to be preserved after he sustained a hamstring injury last time out against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League. The English international is the only player who will be unavailable for Arsenal against Olympiacos.
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Arteta provided an update on Saka during his pre-match press conference, saying, “He was doing another test and obviously he felt something muscular. But he’s been much, much better and they’ve [Saka and Emile Smith Rowe] both been really well. So we’ll make the decision this afternoon on what we’ll do.”
In Saka’s potential absence, Nicolas Pepe is likely to come in on the right flank, with Emile Smith Rowe continuing on the left-wing. Martin Odegaard should reprise the no. 10 role once again, but in front of him, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should come in for Alexandre Lacazette after missing the last game due to disciplinary reasons.
Arteta was quizzed about Aubameyang during his presser as well and the Arsenal boss responded by saying, “We talked, everything has been resolved in a really positive way so we move forward. It was dealt with on the day, its been resolved in a really positive way and we move on.”
In midfield, Dani Ceballos should be handed a start in the double pivot, with Thomas Partey being due a rest. The Spaniard should start alongside Granit Xhaka in the middle of the park, with Mohamed Elneny being a backup option on the bench. As for defence, a couple of changes are expected.
Hector Bellerin should replace Cedric Soares at right-back, with Kieran Tierney continuing on the left flank. At the heart of the Arsenal defence, David Luiz should have Pablo Mari as his partner, with Gabriel Magalhaes making way. Finally, in goal, there is no looking past Bernd Leno.
Arsenal Predicted XI: Leno; Bellerin, Luiz, Mari, Tierney; Ceballos, Xhaka; Pepe, Odegaard, Smith Rowe; Aubameyang
