Kepa Arrizabalaga and Viktor Gyokeres will return to the Arsenal starting lineup when they host Kairat Almaty at the Emirates on Wednesday.
Arsenal will aim to wrap up a flawless campaign in the opening phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League when they welcome Kairat Almaty to the Emirates on Wednesday night. Mikel Arteta has new roster issues to worry about ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Mikel Merino and Declan Rice are the latest absentees, as they will serve suspensions due to an accumulation of yellow cards in the earlier games of the UEFA Champions League. Additionally, Jurrien Timber and William Saliba will not be available to take on Kairat Almaty.
The defensive duo has missed training this week, and they will get some much-needed rest in the midweek Champions League clash. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Arteta confirmed the absence of Saliba and Timber.
The Arsenal manager said, “No, those are not (available). It’s a good opportunity now that we make a different kind of work with them to get them in the best possible condition for the weekend hopefully. It’s been like this for the first seven months of the competition.”
“Whether it was with this competition, domestic league and Champions League, or with international players playing for their countries as well. There is nothing new. The good news is that we have some players back as well now that are going to be helping us. We are used to it, so that’s never going to be an excuse.”
Kepa Arrizabalaga will replace David Raya between the sticks, with Arsenal lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Kairat Almaty on Wednesday. The backline will feature Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera, Riccardo Calafiori, and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
As for the midfield unit, Christian Norgaard will join Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze in the middle of the park. Finally, Viktor Gyokeres will lead the line for the home side against Kairat Almaty, with Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke being the two wide attackers. So, Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Jesus will be backup options on the bench for the Gunners.
Predicted Arsenal XI: Kepa; White, Mosquera, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Norgaard; Madueke, Eze, Martinelli; Gyokeres
