Arsenal are set to field a strong line-up against Manchester United in the Premier League this afternoon.
Mikel Arteta's depleted side thrashed PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday, effectively rendering next week's second leg tie at the Emirates a dead rubber.
Injuries have pulled the Gunners away from runaway leaders Liverpool in the title race, trailing by 13 points while holding two games in hand following the Reds' win over Southampton on Saturday. Chances of mounting a comeback are slim, but victory over the Red Devils will keep the flame alive.
Old Trafford fell to Arteta's side in the final weeks of the 2023/24 campaign, and while Ruben Amorim's squad are horribly out of sorts, Arsenal will need to have their wits about them.
There's not much immediate joy to be found on the fitness front, but let's take a look at what's going on anyway.
Arsenal injury news
Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are making good progress in their respective recoveries, but neither are expected back for several weeks, perhaps after this month's international break.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta celebrates after the match
Ben White, 27, is back though, but hasn't started a match since his return from knee surgery at the start of the season. Jurrien Timber may retain his starting berth at right-back.
Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are both out for the remainder of the 2024/25 campaign.
Arsenal have a respectable record at the Theatre of Dreams and the superior squad to United's withered crop. Arteta will be nothing if not confident his team can clinch another rousing victory.
Arsenal - Recent Record at Old Trafford
Season
23/24
22/23
21/22
20/21
19/20
Stats via Transfermarkt
While the Premier League clash carries more significance than the forthcoming clash against PSV, Arteta might want to make a few changes, with Myles Lewis-Skelly perhaps in line to be benched.
Why Arsenal should drop Lewis-Skelly
One of Arsenal's brightest emerging sparks this season, Lewis-Skelly has made the left-back berth his own this season, starting eight Premier League fixtures since December.
Chalkboard FFC
Chalkboard
Still only 18, he's got the world at his feet and has dazzled through his athletic style and positivity on the ball, ranking among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 18% for progressive passes and the top 10% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.
A successful take-on is recorded when a player beats their opponent by directly carrying the ball past them while retaining possession.
Described as "the future of Arsenal and English football" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Lewis-Skelly has become an increasingly prominent part of the Londoners' season - but he should be taken out of the firing line for this mammoth Premier League contest.
Myles-Lewis-Skelly-Arsenal
Riccardo Calafiori has ebbed and flowed through his maiden campaign in English football, joining from Bologna in a deal worth £42m last summer.
He might not be quite so confident defensively at left-back as Lewis-Skelly, but the Italy international, 22, is more complete at this stage of his career.
Lewis-Skelly is a little overzealous, defensively. With two red cards to his name already, 'MLS' almost saw the flash of red for the third time this week, fortunate to have been spared after a reckless challenge on Richard Ledezma. Arteta spoke of the teenager walking a "thin line" after the emphatic win.
Capable in central defence, Calafiori has played the lion's share of his football for Arsenal out wide. Though he hasn't quite cemented his spot, Arteta did make the bold decision to substitute his younger man against PSV after just 35 minutes, after his near sending off.
Calafiori-Arsenal-Wolves
Caalfiori impressed in his stead, posting a goal and an assist apiece, completing 85% of his passes and winning three duels, as per Sofascore. Football.london awarded the Italian an 8/10 match score, singling out his devastating attacking quality.
Though Man United will hope to bring a different calibre than the Dutch side, Arsenal will surely prevail if they play like they did on the continent, and Calafiori's skill set will help to achieve that, putting Lewis-Skelly on the bench.
Premier League 24/25 - Calafiori vs Lewis-Skelly
Stats (* per game)
Matches (starts)
Goals
Assists
Touches*
Pass completion
Key passes*
Dribbles*
Tackles + interceptions*
Clearances*
Total duels won*
Cards (Y/R)
Data via Sofascore
As you can see, Lewis-Skelly holds the statistical advantage from a defensive standpoint, whereas Calafiori is more convincing in progression and has an eye for involvement in the final third too.
Lewis-Skelly's aggressive defensive style is a neat weapon for Arteta to wield, but against a Man United side with glaring defensive deficiencies, Calafiori's "chaotic" attacking style may well be the order of the day, supplementing Leandro Trossard on the left flank.
Arteta made the claim, also noting that the Italian is "very unpredictable to play against" - which could be key against a United side often looking disorganised and discordant under Amorim's wing.
Riccardo-Calafiori-Arsenal
The club's Spanish boss will expect his side to start on the front foot and issue a statement to Old Trafford. Calafiori's inclusion could keep the fluent attacking spark from midweek intact, carry it over to the Premier League.
Liverpool wobbled against Southampton, and the Gunners simply have to keep the pressure, pushing all the way, ready to pounce if the chance presents itself.
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