Arsenal return to European action tonight as they seek to progress to the Quarter-Finals for the third year in a row at the expense of German side Bayer Leverkusen. Arsenal’s form in the group stage has made them favourites to win this competition in many quarters so now’s the time to really hit the message home and show that we mean to go all the way this year.
Bayer Leverkusen haven’t had a great season and lost an awful lot of players in the Summer, but they still have quality players who can hurt us, so we need to be on our game if we’re going to progress to the next round.
Areas of encouragement
Arsenal’s European form has been very, very good this year as the style of play seems to really suit them, so there will be real confidence within the group that they can carry on where they left off, after their record 8 straight wins in the group stage.
Areas of concern
The attack still seems to be taking it’s time to really click into gear and there’s a number of players that I think are under-performing which is really concerning as we approach the crunch period of the season.
What I’d love to see
Would it be too greedy to say I would love a repeat of the first leg against PSV Eindhoven last season?!? I think that’s a bit much to ask so I’ll say an early goal. That would really turn the tie into our favour early on.
What I’d hate to see
Bayer Leverkusen have got here on merit and need to be respected so I’d hate to see a complacent performance where we show up just expecting to beat them, as some players did at the weekend against Mansfield. We’re in the knockout rounds now, no one should be underestimated.
Lineup and Team News
Our only injured players right now are Ben White, Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino so we’re not in a bad shape injury wise (*touch wood) right now, meaning the team pretty much picks itself, as Mikel Arteta has shown his favoured players with his selections in recent weeks. The two questions are who plays on the left and do you bring Kai Havertz into the team in either attack or midfield. Havertz hasn’t looked quite as sharp after his most recent injury in comparison to his initial return, so I don’t think Arteta will throw him into this one, so for me Eberechi Eze will continue in midfield with Viktor Gyokeres leading the line up top. On the left, I’d really love to see Noni Madueke given another go however, I don’t think that’s in Arteta’s thoughts at all, as he’s barely used it since the opening couple of games of the season.
It’s therefore a choice between Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard and despite Martinelli’s poor performance at the weekend, his Champions League form should see him get the nod in this one.
Predicted lineup:
Raya
Timber
Saliba
Gabriel
Hincapie
Zubimendi
Rice
Eze
Saka
Gyokeres
Martinelli
Substitutes:
Arrizabalaga
Setford
Mosquera
Calafiori
Lewis-Skelly
Norgaard
Havertz
Trossard
Jesus
Salmon
Dowman
Ibrahim
PREDICTION
With our big guns back and refreshed, we should be looking to really put our foot down in this one so I’m going to say 2-0 to The Arsenal.