Arsenal heads into Wednesday’s Champions League Quarterfinal 2nd leg with five regular starters on the questionable list.
Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Calafiori and Timber. Who will play, and who won’t play will be answered at 2 pm ET/7 pm BT on match day when the team sheet is released.
Two things must happen at the Emirates Tuesday. One, they can not be looking ahead to Sunday and their trip to the Etihad to play Man City. And two, they need to rise above the mediocre play of the last four matches or else Sporting Lisbon will advance to play Atletico Madrid in the UCL Semifinals.
At this point in time, the Gunners next two matches will have a tremendous amount of influence on this season’s history. Is this pressure? You bet it is. The cream rises to the top when everything is on the line.
Now, as far as we Gooners go, every piece of positive thinking and energy that we can send to the team is vital. The stadium needs to be loud and supportive, and louder and more in unison then it has been the entire season!
With that said, and assuming the five on the questionable list don’t start or even play, here is my predicted starting XI v Sporting…
[4-3-3]
Trossard, Gyokeres, Madukee
Norgaard, Eze, Zubimendi
Hincapie, Gabriel, Saliba, White
Raya
Predicted final score: ARSENAL 1 – Sporting Lisbon 1 (Arsenal advances 2-1 on aggregate)
COYG!
Gunner1953