Arsenal face Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday night looking to all but confirm their progression to the last-16 of the competition. With a strong run so far, they sit third in the table with this clash against 24th-place Croatian side and then a trip to 30th-place Girona to finish the first phase.
This is the first of two expanded matches from the typical six of the old group phase system. Arteta’s side have been stretched and injuries have only made the situation so much more difficult.
That said, there were some positive pieces of news for the Arsenal manager with several returning players spotted before the clash during the open training session.
Tom Canton
It was a very positive sight to have both Ethan Nwaneri and Riccardo Calafiori back among those training for Arsenal ahead of the clash with Dinamo Zagreb. The match itself presents as a great opportunity to ease them back into the fold too.
Starting one and bringing in the other is probably the way forward to spread minutes while remaining competitive against a tough challenge. Other players who could return to the team and make some rare minutes are Kieran Tierney and Jakub Kiwior.
I have gone with Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli joining Nwaneri in the forward line too as the best option considering that Leandro Trossard can come off the bench. Then he can start at the weekend against Wolves.
Canton’s Arsenal XI: Timber, Kiwior, Gabriel, Tierney; Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard, Nwaneri, Havertz, Martinelli.
