Arsenal stunned the footballing world when they managed to score seven goals against PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last 16 clash. Martin Odegaard’s brace headlined a performance that no one was expecting.
It effectively hands the Gunners early passage through to the quarter-finals of the competition, where they will face either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid. The decision of who will be decided in the Spanish capital at the Wanda Metrapolitano with Los Blancos taking a 2-1 lead to their bitter rivals’ ground.
For Arsenal, PSV will visit the Emirates Stadium next week, looking to overturn a six-goal deficit, which gives Mikel Arteta an opportunity to rotate some key players and keep the momentum up. It is not just about rest, but also about having those fringe players or recovering players gaining valuable time on the field to be able to effectively contribute in the final two-plus months of the season.
Ben White
Having returned from a long-term lay-off following a procedure to correct a persistent issue with his knee, Ben White has begun making some cameos from the bench in the past few games. With the pressure off for the arrival of PSV, this is the perfect chance to test the England international’s fitness.
Jurrien Timber was excellent against PSV and the defender will be planning to keep that spot his. Yet, White offers more natural overlapping potential to the right-hand side and will be a useful weapon for Arteta in the final weeks of the season.
Jakub Kiwior
The Polish international has not played any football since January when he started in Arsenal’s last dead-rubber match with Girona in the Champions League. He has been an unused substitute in 12 Premier League matches, with Mikel Arteta looking instead to players like Kieran Tierney and Oleksandr Zinchenko to provide some differences from the bench.
Kiwior will likely give one of Gabriel Magalhaes or William Saliba a rest for this particular game and play in the middle of the defence with one of the aforementioned players. Should an injury occur to either of the starting central defensive pair, Arteta will need Kiwior and making sure he has some match sharpness will be important.
Nathan Butler-Oyedeji
Many, myself included, have been asking what it will take for 22-year-old striker Nathan Butler-Oyedeji to get some game time. If he is watching his side score six goals and Arteta brings on two defenders before him, I would not be surprised were he asking some questions.
Granted, his presence in the team is only possible because of the chaotic absences in the forward line but with goals having been a struggle before the PSV clash, why he was still left on the bench by many was puzzling. He therefore must be in with a chance of getting some game time should the scoreline be in the Gunners’ favour as the game reaches it's conclusion next week.
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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