Arsenal are set for an intense period in their season as Mikel Arteta will want to manage the games ahead with utmost caution keeping in mind next week’s Champions League semifinals against PSG. The Gunners have a favourable fixture schedule leading to that game, but they must overcome the challenge posed by Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
During his pre-match press conference, Arteta was asked about some details about some of the recent injuries to Riccardo Calafiori as well as any potential experiments with his midfield without Thomas Partey. The Ghanaian intenrational is suspended for the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, which has caused a rethink on the plans for the midfield.
Arteta was also asked about Bukayo Saka’s fitness, as the winger was seen strapped with an ice pack after being substituted against Ipswich Town on Sunday. The Spaniard had insisted there was no problem in the post-match conference, and now he stated there was nothing serious as the winger will be assessed.
Talking about the team news update, Arteta said, “We have to wait and see how he reacts after the session, but it’s nothing too serious. Yes Ricci is out, and Jorginho as well. For Jorginho I think unfortunately it will be a few weeks.”
Arteta further explained Calafiori’s problem and said, “Well, three of the injuries, obviously there are impact injuries. One is a really bad twist. It could have been worse, to be fair. And he’s managing the player as well. So now we learn many more things about the player and how we can be much more on top of certain situations to try to prevent them. But it’s true that the two main ones, they’ve been really unlucky and very little that we could have done differently.”
Speaking on a possible lineup without Partey, Arteta said, “Yeah, well, the reason for it was because Thomas wasn’t available to start the game. At the end, we decided not even to play him because he wasn’t feeling particularly well. So we have some options. We have the opportunity to experiment, but we have all this as well.”
In terms of the team selection, Arteta will likely select a side that will be expected to feature against PSG in the first leg. Meaning, Jurrien Timber and Myles Lewis-Skelly will return to their full-back spots, while William Saliba and Jakub Kiwior retain their central defensive places.
Partey is likely to sit this one out, and Declan Rice will once again assume the role at the base of the midfield, with Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino on either side of the England international. This could be the setup for the game against PSG.
The attacking line will also remain unchanged from Sunday, with Saka expected to start despite picking up a knock this past weekend against Ipswich Town. Gabriel Martinelli will continue on the left wing, with Leandro Trossard leading the line once again.
Predicted Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Rice, Merino; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
