football.london’s writers give their Arsenal teams ahead of the Champions League clash with Slavia Praha
Viktor Gyokeres and Max Dowman are in contention to play for Arsenal against Slavia Praha
Viktor Gyokeres and Max Dowman are in contention to play for Arsenal against Slavia Praha(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Arsenal take on Slavia Praha in the UEFA Champions League, looking to continue their astonishing run in the league phase of the competition. The Gunners are yet to lose such a fixture since the 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan in November 2024.
For the Gunners, the win over Liverpool has meant any negativity from the Fleetwood Town result has evaporated for the most part, although there are some lessons from the League Cup shock to be learned from here. Arsenal have this and a home tie with Hull City to come before the next international break.
Mikel Arteta will be delighted to have welcomed William Saliba back to full training. The Spaniard will be facing the press on Tuesday evening ahead of the clash in Czechia. Our football.london writers have given their thoughts on who should start the game for the Gunners.
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Max Dowman robbed by injury of Champions League record as Arsenal prepare to make big call
Tom Canton
Rotate, but not too much. We saw against Fleetwood Town that wholesale changes and Arsenal just do not mix and I think some players need the continuity.
Plus, while Fleetwood might even give this Slavia Praha side a run for their money at Highbury with how they’ve performed so far this Champions League campaign, some individuals like Martin Odegaard, Ezri Konsa and David Raya are just too important. After the brilliant draw with Bayern, it would be such a waste not to take advantage of that and win another away European clash to follow up on Naples and Munich with only Real Betis to come.
I would start with Christos Tzolis again to continue to build up fitness and bring on Eberechi Eze at the break, after he struggled for fitness last week. Martin Zubimendi really needs a good game, and minutes for Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie will be helpful.
Ben White provides fantastic rotation with Jurrien Timber. While Max Dowman, not suspended in Europe, comes in to make history for Arsenal as their youngest ever Champions League starter.
Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Slavia Praha: Raya; White, Konsa, Mosquera, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard; Dowman, Gyokeres, Tzolis
Ryan Taylor
I think this is a match where Mikel Arteta can shuffle his pack on the back of a tough shift at Anfield. He can't rotate his entire XI, but there is certainly scope for wholesale changes.
Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie are shoo-ins at the back while Gabriel Magalhaes might just have to start - though I'd replace him at half-time. In midfield, Bruno Guimaraes needs to up his game after being subbed around the hour mark in each of his past three Premier League starts.
Myles Lewis-Skelly deserves a start following his instrumental cameo at Anfield, while Max Dowman and Eberechi Eze should start on the flanks. There will be a chance for Viktor Gyokeres to impress in attack too, though that's something he's failed to do from the get-go this season after struggling following starts against Ipswich, Napoli, Lille and Fleetwood, a game in which he scored.
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Taylor's Arsenal XI vs Slavia Praha: Raya; White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Hincapie; Guimaraes, Lewis-Skelly; Dowman, Merino, Eze; Gyokeres
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