MIKEL ARTETA is expected to field a strong Arsenal side to face Olympiacos at the Emirates in the Europa League Round of 32 second leg on Thursday night.
The Gunners go into the game with a 1-0 aggregate lead thanks to Alexandre Lacazette’s late strike at the Karaiskakis Stadium last week.
And with Arsenal without a Premier League game this weekend due to Manchester City’s participation in the Carabao Cup final, the North Londoners can afford to play their strongest team.
The club face Portsmouth in the FA Cup on Monday night, which will allow them to play a mix between youngsters and those that aren’t fully match fit.
Speaking immediately after the win against the Greek side, Arteta stressed that the tie is far from over.
He said: “It will be a different game at the Emirates. Obviously scoring away from home is very positive but the tie is completely open.”
Arsenal’s No1 choice goalkeeper Bernd Leno was handed a rare European start against Olympiacos, and he is expected to retain his place between the sticks.
Sead Kolasinac has been ruled out with a shoulder injury, with Arteta revealing in his pre-match press conference that he is seeing a specialist over the problem.
This would leave teenage sensation Bukayo Saka to occupy the left-back role, with Hector Bellerin in at right-back, and David Luiz and Shkodran Mustafi the two centre-halves once again.
Lucas Torreira will likely be paired with midfield linchpin Granit Xhaka in the middle of the pitch, with Mesut Ozil deployed in the No10 role.
Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could feature on the wings, with Lacazette – an unused substitute in Sunday’s 3-2 win against Everton – returning to the fold.
The match will likely come too soon for Spanish defender Pablo Mari, with the centre-back getting back to match fitness following his January arrival from Flamengo.
Cedric Soares remains on the sidelines with a knee injury, while Kieran Tierney is aiming to be back in full training by the end of the month.
