Arsenal will look to bounce back from a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Leicester City over the weekend when they face League of Ireland side Dundalk FC in the Europa League at the Emirates.
Mikel Arteta‘s side are on a poor run of form in the Premier League having been beaten in three of their previous four matches, but they did get their European campaign off to a winning start by coming from behind to beat Rapid Vienna 2-1 last Thursday.
Dundalk’s European adventure began in August, four days before the 2019-20 Champions League final had even taken place, when they lost to Slovenian side Celje in this season’s Champions League qualifying rounds.
Filippo Giovagnoli’s side responded well to that setback knocking out Andorran side Inter Club d’Escaldes, Moldova’s Sheriff Tiraspol and KI Klaksvik from Iceland, becoming only the third Irish side to reach this stage of the competition.
Dundalk were beaten 2-1 by Molde in their first group stage match and although they will approach their match against Arsenal with no fear, they are considered huge underdogs to take anything from the Emirates.
Although Arteta rotated his side for the Rapid Vienna contest, he still named a strong line-up with the likes of Gabriel Magalhaes, Thomas Partey, Nicolas Pepe and Alexandre Lacazette all starting and he may do likewise again to try and jumpstart his team into life.
Here is how Arsenal could look against Dundalk.
Team news
One player who will definitely not be involved is David Luiz after Arteta ruled him out during his pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
“To play Dundalk there is no chance and it’s a big doubt for him to play [against Manchester United] at the weekend,” the Arsenal boss said.
Luiz’s injury means that Arteta’s central defensive options are stretched with Rob Holding, Calum Chambers and Pablo Mari also sidelined and neither William Saliba nor Sokratis Papastathopolous registered to play in the competition.
Consequently, Shkodran Mustafi looks set to feature, despite reportedly telling the club that he will leave at the end of his contract next summer, with Gabriel and Kieran Tierney expected to complete the back three.
Hector Bellerin has started and completed the full 90 minutes in all six of Arsenal’s Premier League matches so far this season and may be given a breather with Cedric Soares in line to replace him, while Ainsley Maitland-Niles could come into the side on the left.
Although Arteta cleared the versatile Bukayo Saka to feature, saying “Bukayo picked up a knock but he’s been training fine”, the 19-year-old may be rested for Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford given the Arsenal boss has an abundance of midfielders to pick from.
Mohamed Elneny has been pushed down the pecking order since Partey’s arrival and looks likely to be involved and perhaps Joe Willock will be given a rare opportunity to impress considering he has only started two Carabao Cup games so far this season.
In attack, Nicolas Pepe will presumably come into the XI after warming the bench against Leicester at the weekend, while Eddie Nketiah could be pushing for a recall too given Lacazette’s inconsistent performances.
Arteta namechecked another homegrown talent in his press conference, saying Reiss Nelson is “going to get chances in the right moment” and the young winger may line up on the left of the attacking trident.
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