Mikel Arteta to make 4 big changes vs Bayer Leverkusen as £13m Arsenal ace starts
Arsenal entertain Bayer Leverkusen in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday evening.
The Gunners returned to winning ways on Saturday with a dramatic 2-0 Premier League victory over Everton at the Emirates Stadium.
Viktor Gyokeres broke the deadlock in the 89th minute before Max Dowman stole the headlines with his stoppage-time goal.
Arsenal have moved nine points clear of second-placed Manchester City in the league after the Cityzens failed to beat West Ham United (1-1).
The club’s focus will now shift to the second leg of the Champions League last 16 tie against Leverkusen at the Emirates.
Arsenal were fortunate to secure a 1-1 draw in the first leg. A late penalty helped the Gunners pull level at the BayArena.
They must produce a better showing tomorrow in order to progress to the last eight of the elite European competition.
Ahead of the game, manager Mikel Arteta could make four big changes to the starting XI.
Mosquera & Hincapie in defence
Jurrien Timber picked up an apparent groin injury in the opening half against the Toffees, and we should get a further update in today’s pre-match presser. With the short turnaround time, the Dutchman appears a big doubt to face Leverkusen.
Cristhian Mosquera, who was signed for an initial £13 million from Valencia last summer, came on to replace Timber instead of Ben White. Arteta could once again rely on the Spaniard. He looks likely to start on the right side of Arsenal’s backline.
On the opposite end, it could be a straight swap with Piero Hincapie coming in for Riccardo Calafiori. Calafiori was lauded by Everton manager David Moyes after his stellar scorpion kick block to deny Dwight McNeil from opening the scoring.
The Italian was eventually replaced by Hincapie in the 74th minute. The Ecuadorian played a huge role in the victory, providing the assist for Gyokeres’ late goal. The Leverkusen loanee has been almost an ever-present figure at left-back this year and got a rare breather on Saturday. We fully expect the 23-year-old to be reinstated in the starting XI.
Gyokeres & Martinelli return in attack
Kai Havertz got the surprise nod to lead the line ahead of Viktor Gyokeres against Everton and was unlucky not to win a penalty for an evident foul from Michael Keane in the opening half. Gyokeres came off the bench after the hour mark and made the difference with a late winner. The Swede also made a superb clearance in the dying seconds before Dowman’s goal.
The former Sporting CP man looks poised to return to the starting XI upfront. The other change could be on the left wing with Gabriel Martinelli replacing Noni Madueke. Leandro Trossard is still doubtful, having yet to recover from the knock against Mansfield Town. Madueke is not a natural from the left wing, which was quite evident from the win on Saturday.
Martinelli’s assist for Dowman has taken his tally to 16 goal contributions for the campaign. Almost half of those have come in the Champions League. The Brazilian looks likely to return on the left side of the Gunners’ attack after a good cameo versus Everton.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
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