How Arsenal could line up against PSV Eindhoven

The Gunners manager helplessly watched on from the director's box during the weekend's 1-0 Premier League loss to Aston Villa, which prevented his side from rising back to the top of the rankings.

No new injury concerns arose at Villa Park, but a quintet of players in Takehiro Tomiyasu (calf), Emile Smith Rowe (knee), Jurrien Timber (knee), Thomas Partey (thigh) and Fabio Vieira (groin) remain absent and should not be back until various points of 2024.

While changes are expected with nothing but pride at stake, that should not extend to Aaron Ramsdale, who is likely to remain out in the cold as David Raya continues in between the posts.

Oleksandr Zinchenko, Ben White and William Saliba will likely reprise their defensive roles, but Gabriel Magalhaes is overdue a break, so Jakub Kiwior may act as Arteta's left-sided centre-back here.

Jorginho is also knocking on the midfield door and could join Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in the trio, forcing Kai Havertz back down to the bench despite the German's recent improvement.

Gooners will be crying out for Arteta to give Bukayo Saka a complete midweek rest after the winger was in the wars at Villa Park again, and their pleas should not fall on deaf ears this time around, as Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah and Leandro Trossard could link arms in a new-look front three.

Arsenal possible starting lineup: Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Nelson, Nketiah, Trossard