Saliba Makes Comeback! Arsenal's Star Defender Returns to Face Bayer Leverkusen—Full Squad Update & Starting XI Revealed
Arsenal's FA Cup journey to Mansfield Town turned out more challenging than most anticipated, yet the Gunners successfully secured their place in the quarterfinal draw and will now meet Southampton with another potential Wembley appearance on the line.
Everything appears to be progressing smoothly in domestic competitions, and Mikel Arteta will now shift his focus back to European action, as Arsenal's Champions League journey continues on Wednesday evening.
The draw has certainly favored them across all competitions this season, with Bayer Leverkusen presenting relatively manageable round of 16 opposition for the thus-far flawless Gunners. They're heading to the BayArena for the opening leg, aiming to achieve a result that will ease concerns about a possible shock in north London the following week.
Ødegaard Sidelined Until April
Ødegaard Sidelined Until April
Martin Ødegaard has faced another challenging campaign regarding injuries, with Arsenal's skipper currently dealing with a knee problem.
He's been inconsistently available for matchday squads throughout the past month due to this issue, and although Norway boss Ståle Solbakken has indicated Ødegaard's current ailment isn't severe, he won't return to action until following the international break.
Arsenal is additionally missing Mikel Merino following his foot operation at the beginning of the year, while Ben White's availability remains uncertain. Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori sustained knocks during the weekend, though Arteta downplayed the seriousness of their injuries. Nevertheless, their "minor issues" could be significant enough to exclude them from the first leg.
More encouragingly, there's optimism that William Saliba, who's been absent for the last two matches with an ankle problem, will be prepared to return to Arsenal's backline on Wednesday.
Arsenal Expected Formation vs. Bayer Leverkusen (4-2-3-1)
Arsenal Expected Formation vs. Bayer Leverkusen (4-2-3-1)
GK: David Raya—No player accumulated more playing time during the group stage than Raya, with Arsenal allowing half of their tournament goals when Kepa Arrizabalaga was positioned between the sticks against Kairat Almaty.
RB: Jurriën Timber—Following a temporary decline, Timber has regained his peak performance in recent matches and should be well-rested for the first leg, considering he only entered as a substitute on Saturday.
CB: William Saliba—Arteta has remained somewhat evasive regarding Saliba's ankle problem, but he reassured fans that it's not the same ankle that troubled him earlier in the season. His recent setback appears minor, and he could return to the lineup after missing two games.
CB: Gabriel—The Brazilian center-back didn't make the trip to Mansfield during the weekend, but he'll definitely be traveling to Germany.
LB: Piero Hincapié—Hincapié has been an essential component of Arsenal's defensive setup this calendar year, and Calafiori's recent injury has lessened the competition for playing time temporarily.
CM: Martín Zubimendi—The rhythmic midfielder finally received some rest during the weekend, with Arteta planning to rely heavily on Zubimendi during the final phases of this tournament.
CM: Declan Rice—Rice enjoyed time off at home while a significantly altered Arsenal squad faced difficulties at Mansfield, with Arteta sensibly resting the English midfielder before their Champions League campaign resumed. Leverkusen features a duo of skilled playmakers in midfield, so Rice will face a stern test.
RW: Bukayo Saka—He's the player Arsenal will rely upon as this tournament enters its crucial phases. Saka hasn't dominated the Champions League this season yet, but he possesses an outstanding record in European fixtures.
AM: Eberechi Eze—Eze provided the decisive goal on Saturday, and he's progressively appearing more settled within Arteta's system. His place in the team will persist during Ødegaard's absence.
LW: Gabriel Martinelli—The Brazilian forward tops Arsenal's roster with seven Champions League goal contributions this campaign. With Trossard's fitness questionable, Martinelli appears certain to start, and Leverkusen will provide space for him to exploit.
ST: Viktor Gyökeres—Having started five of the Gunners' eight group stage matches, Gyökeres is expected to edge out Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus for the starting position on Wednesday evening. He's found the net four times in this tournament so far.