Football.London reporters Tom Canton and Ryan Taylor pick their Arsenal starting XIs for the Champions League clash against Club Brugge on Wednesday night
10:10, 09 Dec 2025
Marli Salmon
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Marli Salmon could be involved with the Arsenal squad against Club Brugge
Arsenal are bidding to make it six wins from six in Europe when they travel to Belgium to face Club Brugge on Wednesday evening.
The Gunners can wrap up top-eight qualification with two games to spare with victory, though Mikel Arteta is expected to rest and rotate ahead of this weekend's Premier League fixture against Wolves.
An added twist is that on Monday, Club Brugge sacked their head coach Nicky Hayen after the club lost three of their past four Jupiler Pro League matches.
Below, Football.London reporters Tom Canton and Ryan Taylor have had a go at selecting the Arsenal starting XI.
Tom Canton
Changes, changes and more changes, please! That’s what I would like from this game and there is still plenty of quality to be able to beat a Club Brugge side in a bit of a spiral of difficulty who have just sacked their manager.
Bukayo Saka, rested. Declan Rice, rested. Leandro Trossard, rested. Martin Zubimendi, rested. Jurrien Timber, rested. David Raya, rested. Martin Odegaard, rested.
Big players given the chance to be in the best possible shape for the next Premier League game against Wolves, which might look easier on paper, but the defeat to Villa has added unnecessary pressure to the clash. It also gives the chance for some players to find some form.
Viktor Gyokeres is certainly one of those players who need to find the back of the net again and soon. While Ethan Nwaneri is in desperate need of minutes, and the forgotten Christian Norgaard is too desperately desiring some game time.
The back four is the trickiest due to the injuries, but with Calafiori suspended for the weekend, it makes sense that he plays. It’s also worth adding that Max Dowman, coming off the bench in this game, should be another sight to see in Belgium.
Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Club Brugge : Kepa; White, Calafiori, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Norgaard, Eze, Nwaneri; Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
Viktor Gyokeres
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Viktor Gyokeres is expected to return to the Arsenal starting XI(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Ryan Taylor
Similarly to Tom, I envisage wholesale changes with the likes of David Raya, Jurrien Timber, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Mikel Merino, Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka all receiving rest.
I'd honestly be slightly surprised if Ben White was able to start three games in eight days given he's not played much football this season but if he's ready to do that, it's a huge bonus.
I would also like to see Marli Salmon, 16, given a go at centre-back. There's a chance William Saliba could return but for me, given the severity of the club's defensive injury and availability crisis, it would be a good time to try Salmon.
The teenager is rated highly within the club and is listed on Arsenal's UEFA B List squad, so why not give him a go?
If he was to feature, it would be Salmon full debut despite featuring for the Gunners in their pre-season tour of the Far East. The defender was also on the bench on Saturday at Villa Park.
Riccardo Calafiori was limping after the defeat at Aston Villa but the Gunners need the Italian to play because he'll be rested against Wolves on Saturday due to suspension.
Ethan Nwaneri deserves a rare start while Viktor Gyokeres will be handed the chance to lead the line after three cameos from the bench upon return from injury.
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Taylor's Arsenal XI vs Club Brugge : Kepa; White, Salmon, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly; Norgaard, Eze, Nwaneri; Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
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