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Surprise name included as Arsenal name 21-man squad for Sporting Lisbon clash

By on October 24, 2018

Arsenal have confirmed the 21-man squad that’s travelled to Portugal ahead of our Europa League clash with Sporting Lisbon and there was a surprise name on the plane.

Forgotten defender Carl Jenkinson has been included in the squad that flew-out of north London this afternoon as he bids to make his first appearance for the Arsenal first team since late 2016.

Jenkinson has been frozen out over the past few years and has spent some time out on loan but the 26-year-old could make a rare outing against Sporting Lisbon tomorrow night with our full-back options stretched at present.

Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac have once again been ruled out with hamstring issues and you’d like to think Hector Bellerin will be rested ahead of Sunday’s trip to Crystal Palace so Jenkinson could be called up on Thursday.

Youngster Emile Smith Rowe could also get another chance to impress as he’s been included in the squad while Stephan Lichtsteiner may be forced to play at left-back once again.

The likes of Danny Welbeck, Matteo Guendouzi, Mohamed Elneny, Aaron Ramsey and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are all pushing for recalls after being named on the bench against Leicester on Monday.

Sokratis is back in contention after recovering from an ankle injury but Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Petr Cech haven’t travelled to Portugal despite returning to full training recently after injuries.

Here is the confirmed 21-squad squad:

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