rsenal boss Mikel Arteta faces a tricky balancing act for Tuesday’s Champions League visit to RC Lens, with a crunch six-pointer against Manchester City looming on Sunday.
Thomas Partey has been included in the travelling squad but will surely be on the bench, having not played since August, leaving Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard likely to continue in midfield.
Fabio Vieira could come back in for Kai Havertz, however, despite the latter’s goal from the penalty spot in the 4-0 drubbing of Bournemouth.
Leandro Trossard is also pushing for a return to the side after recovering from injury. The Belgian was impressive in the opening Champions League group game against PSV Eindhoven and may replace Eddie Nketiah in the front three, allowing Gabriel Jesus to return to central striker.
Takehiro Tomiyasu could start, enabling Arteta to rest Oleksandr Zinchenko against his former club at the weekend.
There remains debate about Arsenal’s best goalkeeper but David Raya appears to have ousted Aaron Ramsdale in the big games.
Jurrien Timber (ACL) and Gabriel Martinelli (hamstring) have not travelled.
Arsenal predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Gabriel, Saliba, Tomiyasu; Rice, Odegaard, Vieira; Saka, Trossard, Jesus
Injured: Timber, Martinelli
Time and date: 8pm BST on October 3, 2023
Venue: Stade Bollaert-Delelis
