Arsenal face Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League tonight with Mikel Arteta surely set to rotate his squad at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners’ Europa League campaign has almost been forgotten about of late.
Arsenal have played just one group stage game and that was almost a month ago, a 2-1 win against FC Zurich.
Queen Elizabeth II’s passing meant Arsenal’s game with PSV Eindhoven was cancelled so here we are; tonight’s game against Bodo/Glimt is just Arsenal’s second group stage game.
Many will be expecting a win but Kjetil Knutsen’s men have surprised many in the past and Arsenal must take this game seriously.
Arsenal predicted lineup v Bodo/Glimt
Mikel Arteta will ring the changes tonight and that surely means a start for Matt Turner.
Summer signing Turner started against Zurich and will surely come in to replace Aaron Ramsdale again tonight.
Cedric Soares was in training on Wednesday and that may well signal that he is ready to start at right back against Bodo/Glimt.
Kieran Tierney will then be able to play at left back, with Rob Holding and Takehiro Tomiyasu at centre back.
Tomiyasu has been unlucky to drop out of the starting XI this season and needs minutes to kick on again, starting with tonight.
The Japan ace was hailed as ‘brilliant’ by Kevin Campbell last season but has lost his place to Ben White and will be looking to shine in the Europa League.
Albert Sambi Lokonga will surely come into midfield tonight and then it’s either Thomas Partey or Granit Xhaka alongside him.
Given Partey’s recent injury woes, we’ll back Xhaka to get the nod in the heart of midfield.
Fabio Vieira is in line to come in as Arsenal’s number 10 tonight, receiving another change to shine after impressing against Brentford last month.
Marquinhos will then come in down one flank and we’re backing Gabriel Martinelli to start the game even if he may be substituted for Reiss Nelson.
It just feels a little early for Nelson to go straight into the lineup after his injury problems but he should receive some minutes.
Eddie Nketiah will then lead the attack, coming in to replace Gabriel Jesus up top.
Arsenal predicted lineup v Bodo/Glimt: Turner; Cedric, Holding, Tomiyasu, Tierney; Sambi Lokonga, Xhaka; Marquinhos, Vieira, Martinelli; Nketiah.
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