Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta should not be averse to an attacking reshuffle for Sunday's Premier League showdown with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
The Gunners do battle with the holders on the back of a goalless draw with Atalanta BC in the Champions League, where Declan Rice returned from suspension and Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori were both fine to feature despite recent knocks.
However, Arsenal are still without influential skipper Martin Odegaard due to his severe ankle injury, while Mikel Merino (shoulder), Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) and Kieran Tierney (hamstring) are missing as well.
Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli formed a familiar attacking trident from 2022-23 in Bergamo, but the latter's struggles continued as he spurned a gilt-edged opportunity in the second half.
Leandro Trossard and ex-City star Raheem Sterling are both threatening to take Martinelli's place in the XI, and the former is now in contention to replace the Brazilian, forcing Sterling to wait for his maiden Gunners start.
Jesus will likely retain his place up top thanks to Odegaard's injury, which should see Kai Havertz operate in the Norwegian's usual midfield role alongside Thomas Partey and Rice.
Even though Calafiori is pushing for a first competitive start, the near-impenetrable backline of Jurrien Timber, Ben White, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes will no doubt remain unchanged, while David Raya starts in goal after his breathtaking double save in midweek.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Havertz, Partey, Rice; Saka, Jesus, Trossard
> Click here to see how Man City could line up for this clash
Ben Knapton
