Arsenal will host Dinamo Zagreb at the Emirates on Wednesday, and Mikel Arteta is expected to name an unchanged squad from Saturday.
Arsenal will look to take a giant step towards finishing in the top eight of the Champions League, as they are in a fantastic position to do that. The Gunners host Dinamo Zagreb at the Emirates on Wednesday and then travel to Girona for their final league-phase game next week. Mikel Arteta wants to target six points from those remaining fixtures, potentially guaranteeing them an automatic qualification spot.
During his pre-match press conference, Arteta updated two key stars’ fitness, with Riccardo Calafiori and teenage sensation Ethan Nwaneri resuming full training. He also spoke about the youngster’s impact, as well as on William Saliba’s injury.
On Calafiori and Nwaneri returning, Arteta said, “It’s very positive news. We’ve missed them for a few weeks, and they returned today for training, so they will be available for the game.”
Meanwhile, Saliba was reportedly injured after the North London Derby, with a muscular problem pointed out as the reason for his absence at the weekend. The defender is not expected to feature against Dinamo Zagreb.
Arteta updated on Saliba’s situation and said, “He is evolving well, the last few days he was feeling much better already but this game comes a little bit too early for him.”
Arteta also had a few words following Nwaneri’s return and what it meant. He continued, “Yes it was a big setback because he was getting some consistency and more minutes. We made him play in a different position and he was doing really well, then suddenly this happens. It’s understandable with the load as well, it goes through the roof immediately and this is what we have to manage.”
While Calafiori has resuming training, one might assume a start might be too soon for the Italian, althoug he could have potentially given Arteta the option to use him at the heart of the defence in Saliba’s absence. The Italian international could still come off the bench to relieve one of the starting defenders, which gives Arsenal a boost.
As for the lineup, Arteta is not expected to make any changes to the one that started against Aston Villa on Saturday. Thomas Partey will continue at right-back, with Jurrien Timber taking over Saliba’s place and partnering up with Gabriel Magalhaes. It also means another start for the impressive Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back.
The midfield will also stay unchanged, with Declan Rice anchoring, while Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino operate on either side of the England international. Gabriel Martinelli will continue on the right wing, while the impressive Leandro Trossard keeps his place on the left, as Kai Havertz leads the line for Arsenal.
Predicted Lineup (4-3-3): Raya; Partey, Timber, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Rice, Merino; Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard
