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Arsenal face a formidable away trip to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano for their Champions League semifinal first leg against Atlético Madrid on Wednesday.
A notoriously hostile ground that has historically broken visiting sides, Arsenal are determined to defy the odds as they seek a favorable result to bring back to north London ahead of next week's second leg.
A spot in what would be only the club's second-ever Champions League final is on the line, coming exactly 20 years after their last appearance in the showpiece occasion. Mikel Arteta's side remain unbeaten in Europe this campaign and could yet etch their names into history with a maiden title.
Arteta must nail his team selection for this monumental clash, with the Gunners riding high after their emphatic 4–0 win over Atléti in this season's league phase.
Fresh Injury Issues Arise for Gunners
Arsenal suffered two injury blows during their crucial 1–0 win over Newcastle United on Saturday, with Kai Havertz withdrawn in the opening half and Eberechi Eze substituted just before the hour mark due to "muscular niggles".
Arteta may turn to Viktor Gyökeres in place of Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli instead of Eze in Madrid if either fails to receive medical clearance, while Bukayo Saka could make his first start since the Carabao Cup final after returning from injury at the weekend.
Jurriën Timber and Mikel Merino remain sidelined, though Riccardo Calafiori could be in line for a return. Arteta suggested he was "very close" to featuring in the matchday squad on Saturday despite not appearing.
Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs. Atlético Madrid (4-2-3-1)
GK: David Raya—Arsenal's shot-stopper is certain to face intense pressure in a fierce atmosphere. Tasked with keeping out the likes of Julián Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann, the Spaniard will need to be at his very best upon returning to his home country.
RB: Cristhian Mosquera—Another player heading back to Spain, Mosquera could come in for Ben White as Arteta prioritizes defensive solidity at the Metropolitano—a strategy that paid dividends in the quarterfinal second leg against Sporting CP.
CB: William Saliba—Saliba was surprisingly shaky against Newcastle forward William Osula at the weekend. The Frenchman's challenge will be considerably tougher in Madrid.
CB: Gabriel—On a night when Arsenal will adopt a measured approach, Gabriel's aerial threat from set pieces could prove crucial. The Brazilian's defensive qualities will also be put to the test.
LB: Piero Hincapié—Tireless operator Giuliano Simeone will ensure Hincapié has little opportunity to venture forward, while keeping him occupied defensively in his own half.
CM: Martín Zubimendi—Zubimendi won just two of his 11 encounters with Atléti during his time at Real Sociedad, and he will have taken great delight in his former club's recent Copa del Rey final triumph over Diego Simeone's side.
CM: Declan Rice—Consistently delivers on the biggest stages, the composed Rice radiates confidence even in the most pressurized environments. His teammates must draw inspiration from his example.
RW: Bukayo Saka—Given the magnitude of Wednesday's fixture, Arteta will be strongly tempted to hand Saka an immediate return to the starting lineup for his first start since recovering from injury.
AM: Martin Ødegaard—With Arsenal in desperate need of creative spark, their captain must rise to the occasion. Ødegaard can be the driving force behind his team's push in the final stretch, but must improve on his recent showings to deliver.
LW: Gabriel Martinelli—Eze declared himself fit after the Newcastle match, but that personal assessment may not be sufficient to guarantee his place in the starting eleven. Fortunately, Martinelli has reserved some of his finest European performances for this season.
ST: Viktor Gyökeres—Havertz looks set to be left out to avoid further risk, opening the door for Gyökeres to step in. The Swede netted twice during Arsenal's dominant league phase victory over the Spanish side.