Arsenal are set to take on Ostersund in tonight’s Europa League match-up, and are firmly expected to field a weakened side having taken a comfortable win away from Sweden.
We have a healthy 3-0 advantage to defend in North London tonight, and with one eye on Sunday’s Carabao Cup final, you can firmly expect some inexperienced players to pick up minutes.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan may well find himself amongst a number of younger players for the tie, with him cup-tied from Sunday’s encounter from his time with Manchester United, while the likes of Eddie Nketiah and Danny Welbeck will be vying for a starting berth up front. Both Mkhi and Welbeck have been confirmed as starters as well as shot-stopper David Ospina at the Emirates tonight, but the remainder of the line-up will likely be shuffled.
Aaron Ramsey, Alexandre Lacazette and Mesut Ozil are all confirmed absentees, and I struggle to believe that Jack Wilshere will be risked with the Welsh midfielder a doubt for Sunday’s clash also.
Predicted XI:
Ospina
Chambers Mertesacker Kolasinac
Nelson Willock Elneny Maitland-Niles
Reine-Adelaide Mkhitaryan
Welbeck
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Nketiah given the nod over Welbeck up front, with the England international taking up a wide wole, but I feel that Arsene Wenger will want to see more from Danny in a central role with Lacazette out injured and Aubameyang cup-tied from the Europa League.
This team should have more than enough to secure a victory against the Swedish side, but I wouldn’t expect them to just roll over. I’ll go with a 2-1 victory, with Mkhitaryan getting himself on the scoresheet.
Would this team be able to comfortably put us into the next round? Can we afford to make so many changes after the first leg? What are your predictions for the tie?
Pat J