Arsenal take on Kazakh side Kairat Almaty in the UEFAChampions League**** this week: The final game of a, so far, perfect league phase.
The Gunners come into the match off the back of their first home loss of the season. A 3-2 defeat against Manchester United has left a sombre mood in North London.
Winless in three league games, the cup competitions have been Arsenal’s strong point in what has been a long and demanding season. Mikel Arteta’s side have played in every game possible so far this campaign, and this is perhaps having a negative effect on the squad’s fitness levels.
With Kairat bottom of the Champions League, and Arsenal at the top, this game presents an opportunity for full rotation, something that may be well-needed ahead of bigger games to come.
Will this provide an opportunity for fringe attackers?
After last weekend’s defeat to Man Utd, an alarming set of statistics came to the fore. They showcased Arsenal’s lack of goals from attacking players.
The likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Viktor Gyökeres have all struggled to find the back of the net in the Premier League. However, the Brazilian has excelled in the cup competitions and is actually the club’s top scorer this season with nine goals.
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The point still stands, though. While Manchester City have the imperious Erling Haaland and Aston Villa have a combination of Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers, Arsenal don’t have a consistent goalscorer.
Against Kairat, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Jesus should be given opportunities to impress. Eberechi Eze will most likely start too. If he is to make a comeback to the side, he must make a lasting impression at the Emirates Stadium.
The simple fact is, the Gunners should win this no matter who plays, but a performance to fill the home fans with optimism would also be a welcome gift.
Significant changes could be made
While Kairat are a team filled with bravery and courage (narrow defeats to Real Madrid and Inter certainly prove this), Arsenal should have the quality to dispatch their opponents, no matter the team that is fielded.
This could see a fully fresh starting XI from the team that lost out to United in the dying embers. The likes of Cristhian Mosquera, Christian Norgaard and Myles Lewis-Skelly will all be hoping for gametime and a chance to stake a claim for a start against Leeds United on Saturday.
Declan Rice is suspended, meaning he won’t be involved at all after a late yellow card against Inter at the San Siro last week.
(Credit: Stuart MacFarlane/ GettyImages).
Kai Havertz remains a doubt, but this fixture could provide an opportunity for Riccardo Calafiori to earn competitive minutes after a medium-term injury suffered against Crystal Palace in December.
Expect minutes to be given to young defender Marli Salmon if Arsenal cruise into a sizable lead.
The chance to break a record awaits
Arsenal have the chance to make it eight wins from eight in the Champions League group phase.
With the competition in its second year of the new format, Arsenal have the chance to become the first side to win all eight of their games in the league phase.
Victories over the likes of Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Inter have made this campaign one to remember. The Gunners have secured a top-two spot, meaning that they will play all of their second-leg ties at home, a luxury not afforded to them against both Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
While Mikel Arteta will probably want to rotate his side, he will surely be eyeing up an eighth victory out of eight in the league phase.