Mikel Arteta has made two changes to his side for tonight’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid, with Viktor Gyokeres once again taking the starting spot up front.
Our top scorer will hope to add to his 18 goals in his debut campaign at the Metropolitano Stadium, as he replaces Kai Havertz who was forced off in our 1-0 win against Newcastle United on Saturday and misses out in the Spanish capital.
Another player who came off earlier than hoped against the Magpies was our matchwinner Ebere Eze, but he is fit enough for the bench with Gabriel Martinelli given a chance from the start to add to his six Champions League goals this term.
There is better news on the injury front with Riccardo Calafiori fit enough to return to the bench after missing the last few matches, where Bukayo Saka also lies in wait, having made his return on Saturday.
Diego Simeone meanwhile has also been forced to change his starting XI which ended a five-game domestic winless run by beating Athletic Bilbao 3-2 on Saturday, and the Atleti boss has made four changes.
After playing no part in the past four matches due to an issue with his thigh, Julian Alvarez returns in place of Alexander Sorloth up front. The Argentinian striker has scored a club-record nine times in the Champions League this season.
Hot prospect Pablo Barrios picked up a hamstring injury in that game and misses out, with his spot in central midfield filled by Johnny Cardoso.
Former Everton and Fulham winger Ademola Lookman sat out the game with a muscle strain but is fit to return, with Alex Baena dropping to the bench, while the fit-again David Hancko is back in central defence.
LINE-UPS
Atletico Madrid: Oblak, Llorente, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri, Simeone, Koke, Cardoso, Lookman, Griezmann, Alvarez.
Subs: Musso, Esquivel, Molina, Bonar, Lenglet, Diaz, Le Normand, Vargas, Baena, Mendoza, Almada, Sorloth.
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Madueke, Martinelli, Gyokeres.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Setford, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Mosquera, Salmon, Norgaard, Eze, Trossard, Saka, Dowman, Jesus.
Ahead of kick-off, get ready for the big game by reading our match preview, containing all the need-to-know stats, tactics, a guide to Atleti’s season and much more.
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