“That particular Arsenal player is the only defender I’m scared to face… He’s so aggressive”: Atalanta superstar Ademola Lookman says he’s feeling scared to face ONE aggressive Arsenal defender ahead of UCL clash
Kicking off their latest Champions League campaign, Arsenal will visit Italy on Thursday evening, when they meet Europa League winners Atalanta BC in their first league-phase fixture.
Head coach Mikel Arteta has several selection headaches to resolve, even though he can bring midfield mainstay Declan Rice back into his starting XI following suspension.
Topping a long absence list, captain Martin Odegaard has been sidelined by an ankle injury since representing Norway in the UEFA Nations League earlier this month, while several defenders are set to miss out at the Gewiss Stadium.
Ex-Bologna centre-back Riccardo Calafiori (calf) will not feature in his home country, with Kieran Tierney (thigh), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) and Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf) also out of contention.
Furthermore, Arteta’s midfield options are still restricted by new boy Mikel Merino being ruled out by a shoulder injury suffered in training, leaving Thomas Partey and Jorginho locked in a battle to partner Rice in the engine room.
Though Bukayo Saka was withdrawn towards the end of Sunday’s North London derby, it has been suggested that he was simply stricken by cramp; therefore, the England winger should feature on Arsenal’s right flank.
With Kai Havertz leading the line and Leandro Trossard likely to fill in for Odegaard in an advanced midfield role, Gabriel Martinelli and Raheem Sterling seem to be contesting one more place in the final third.
If selected, the latter would become the first man in Champions League or European Cup history ever to play for four different English teams in UEFA’s top club tournament.
Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus appeared as a late substitute at the weekend, having recently recovered from his latest muscular problem, but he is set to start Thursday’s game on the bench.
Arsenal possible starting lineup: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Partey, Rice; Saka, Trossard, Sterling; Havertz
