Predicted Arsenal XI vs Kairat Almaty with four key players ruled out
Arsenal take on Kairat Almaty in the final league phase game of the Champions League at the Emirates Stadium tonight.
The Gunners are guaranteed to finish in the top two of the standings, but will be aiming for a convincing victory after last weekend’s 3-2 Premier League defeat to Manchester United.
Ahead of the encounter, manager Mikel Arteta could make up to 10 changes from the disappointing loss to the Red Devils at home.
The Gunners are already without four key players for the game. Declan Rice and Mikel Merino are suspended for the contest.
Arteta has also confirmed that William Saliba and Jurrien Timber won’t be involved after they were left out of yesterday’s training session.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Predicted Line-up:
David Raya has kept five clean sheets in the European campaign, but could be given a breather ahead of Saturday’s tricky league outing at Leeds United. Kepa Arrizabalaga looks poised to make his Champions League debut for the Gunners.
In defence, only Piero Hincapie could keep his place from Sunday as part of the heavy rotation. We anticipate Ben White to come in for Timber at right-back.
With Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes rested, it could be Cristhian Mosquera partnering Hincapie in central defence.
Riccardo Calafiori could make his injury comeback at left-back, though he may not play more than an hour.
It could be a new-look midfield with Martin Zubimendi and Martin Odegaard being rested.
Christian Norgaard should come in as the holding midfielder. We predict Lewis-Skelly to partner the Dane in the centre of the park.
Lewis-Skelly played as a regular midfielder during his academy days. Arteta has a rare chance to test him in the position tonight.
Eberechi Eze is a natural replacement for Odegaard and should feature as the attacking midfielder against Kairat.
In the final third, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard could be benched alongside Gabriel Jesus as part of Arteta’s rotation.
Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli have scored eight Champions League goals between them in the current campaign.
The duo should line up on the right and left wing respectively, while Viktor Gyokeres should lead the line for the Gunners.
The Swede has three goal involvements in his last four appearances, and scoring tonight would be a good confidence booster for him.
Kai Havertz is pushing for a starting berth, but could be handled with caution after his knee recently flared up on his return from injury.
The German could be restricted to a second-half appearance against the Kazakhstan champions.
How Arsenal could line up vs Kairat tonight
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
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