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Arsenal predicted line-up against Shakhtar Donetsk
Arsenal will welcome Shakhtar Donetsk in a crucial Champions League encounter at the Emirates Stadium tonight.
The Gunners will be coming into this game off the back of a disappointing 2-0 defeat against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League so Mikel Arteta’s troops will be desperate to return to winning ways in this fixture before the all-important league game versus Liverpool next weekend.
The North London club drew their opening Champions League fixture against Atalanta but defeated Paris Saint-Germain in the last match in this competition.
Team news
Martin Odegaard remains sidelined with an ankle issue, while Bukayo Saka may not also feature tonight due to his injury problem. He wasn’t available last time out versus the Cherries and is expected to return in the Liverpool game.
Jurrien Timber has been nursing a muscular injury and is highly unlikely to feature in this encounter with Takehiro Tomiyasu not in contention to play tonight owing to his problem.
William Saliba picked up a red card against Bournemouth but the domestic suspension doesn’t carry on European fixtures so he is available in this game.
Predicted line-up
David Raya has been excellent thus far this season but he looked a bit shaky this weekend. He is set to continue between the sticks for the Gunners and will be hoping to be at the top of his game versus Shakhtar.
Saliba would continue alongside Gabriel Magalhaes at the back for Arsenal with Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori expected to be the two fullbacks. In that case, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior will be among the substitutes.
Thomas Partey should commence in the deep-lying playmaker position and on either side of the Ghanaian, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino could start in midfield for the hosts.
Raheem Sterling might be in the right flank amid Saka’s absence, while Gabriel Martinelli is likely to be on the opposite side. Therefore, Leandro Trossard could feature off the bench.
Kai Havertz would be in the centre-forward position so Gabriel Jesus will have to make do with a place on the bench.
Expected Arsenal line-up vs Shakhtar Donetsk
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Partey, Rice, Merino; Martinelli, Havertz, Sterling