The Gunners edged out Brentford 1-0 in September's third-round meeting to make it this far, where a Reiss Nelson finish and a handful of crucial Aaron Ramsdale contributions made the difference.
The latter controversially remains behind David Raya in the goalkeepers' pecking order but should be reinstated to the XI here, and the same can be said for Takehiro Tomiyasu following his maiden Gunners goal in the weekend's 5-0 crushing of Sheffield United.
With Jurrien Timber still nursing his severe knee injury, Ben White should continue on the right-hand side of the backline, unless Arteta springs a surprise and introduces Cedric Soares from the first whistle.
Gabriel Magalhaes is primed to partner Tomiyasu at the back after being rested against Sheffield United, which could in turn push Jakub Kiwior out to the left-hand side as Oleksandr Zinchenko makes way again.
Thomas Partey's muscular problem will sideline him for a few weeks, but ex-Irons captain Declan Rice is unlikely to start at his old home, with Jorginho likely to get the nod as the deepest-lying midfielder, fending off competition from Mohamed Elneny in the process.As Martin Odegaard recovers from a small knock, Fabio Vieira should be offered an opportunity to impress in the middle, while Emile Smith Rowe made his first Premier League start since May 2022 on Saturday but may lose out to Kai Havertz's aerial prowess.
Fresh from recording his first-ever Premier League hat-trick, Eddie Nketiah will continue to spearhead the attack in the absence of hamstring victim Gabriel Jesus, potentially with Leandro Trossard and third-round matchwinner Nelson as a new supporting cast.
Arsenal possible starting lineup: Ramsdale; White, Tomiyasu, Gabriel, Kiwior; Vieira, Jorginho, Havertz; Nelson, Nketiah, Trossard
0 Comments