The return of Champions League play to the Emirates will be much-anticipated by Mikel Arteta, and the Spaniard must field his strongest team to contend with PSV.
After being absent from Europe’s elite for six years, Arsenal has returned, and the Gunners are getting ready to kick off their campaign in Group B.
In addition to tonight’s opponents PSV Eindhoven, whom Mikel Arteta’s team previously faced in the Europa League, the group also includes RC Lens, Sevilla, and the Spanish team.
This evening at the Emirates is expected to be a fiercely competitive match as both teams attempt to establish themselves as the group favorites to advance to the round of 16.
Similar to PSV, Arsenal has had a strong start to the Premier League season, winning four and drawing one of their first five games.
Coming off a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Everton at Goodison Park, they enter this evening’s matchup.
In comparison, the Dutch giants are in first place in the Eredivisie.
What are the most recent Arsenal team news?
Who will lead the line is the main area of uncertainty in the possible changes to the lineup that Arteta fielded on Sunday to face PSV.
Gabriel Martinelli was forced to leave the game after just 24 minutes due to an apparent hamstring injury, and Leandro Trossard came off the bench to score the game-winning goal at Goodison.
Arteta stated that the 22-year-old will “for sure” miss tonight’s game and added that additional tests will be necessary to determine the severity of the winger’s injury.
Due to his valiant efforts on Merseyside, Trossard has earned a spot in the starting XI in Martinelli’s absence.
Another questionable omission was the choice to start Fabio Vieira over Kai Havertz against Everton.
With the German struggling to adjust to life in north London, the Portuguese star could once more step up to the plate.
Eddie Nketiah’s ability to continue leading the line now that Gabriel Jesus has recovered from his injury is still in doubt, especially since Trossard is expected to take Martinelli’s place.
Gabriel Jesus should begin the matchup with PSV.
The four-time Premier League champion came off the bench in the last three games to give the strike force some extra threat after missing the first part of the season with a recurring knee injury.
Having participated in the Champions League 38 times while playing for Manchester City, Jesus is more familiar with the demands of the competition than Nketiah.
The Brazilian striker, who earns £265k per week, has 20 goals in the competition so far, demonstrating his suitability to be the one to lead Arsenal against PSV.
Jesus, who was once hailed as a “pressing machine” by journalist Adam Keys, might be the ideal addition to the starting lineup, with Arteta needing all the firepower he can muster to dismantle PSV’s well-oiled back line.
Peter Bosz’s team has only given up one goal in the Eredivisie thus far this season, indicating that the Gunners will need their strikers to be at the top of their game to pose a threat to the Dutch team.
Jesus, a 26-year-old forward who has averaged 0.58 non-penalty expected goals (xG) per 90 over the past year and is ranked in the top 11% of forwards in Europe’s top five leagues by FBref, is one of the best in Europe at bringing a threat in the final third.
By bringing in the £45 million striker, Arteta could put Bosz’s defensive finesse to the test.
The Brazilian has the potential to make a splash in the Champions League while Nketiah, regrettably, is out.
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