Arsenal Set to Rotate Squad as They Return to Europe
Arsenal head back into Europe with a score to settle.
Last season they tore through the league phase, winning all eight games and going unbeaten in 90 minutes across the entire competition. They reached the final in Budapest, dragged Paris Saint-Germain all the way to penalties, and then saw the trophy slip away in the shootout.
Now the climb starts again, this time in Naples on Wednesday night, and Mikel Arteta is expected to lean on the depth that almost carried them to glory.
Arteta ready to rotate heavy artillery
Arsenal arrive with an “embarrassment of riches” kind of squad, and this looks like the moment Arteta starts to shuffle the pack.
Bruno Guimaraes did not play a single minute in the win over Chelsea, still nursing a knock. That opens the door for Martin Zubimendi to anchor the midfield instead, a like-for-like switch that keeps the structure but freshens the legs.
Higher up the pitch, there is a different kind of pressure. Eberechi Eze has been waiting for his chance to start on the left and will sense an opportunity here. On current form and fitness, he has every reason to believe he can force his way in.
Through the middle, Viktor Gyokeres is pushing for a first start of the season. With Kai Havertz’s workload under careful management, this could be the night the Swede is unleashed from the first whistle.
Defensive decisions in the spotlight
At the back, the picture is more complicated.
William Saliba remains out with a long-term back injury, a hole in the defence that Arsenal have had to learn to live with. Jurrien Timber is edging closer but still hasn’t played a minute this season. Cristhian Mosquera is a doubt as well, troubled by a muscle issue.
All of that points to Ezri Konsa continuing alongside Gabriel, just as he did in the victory over Chelsea on Sunday. The partnership looked solid then and, barring a late twist, should be trusted again in Naples.
If Arteta does tinker, it is most likely to be at left-back. Riccardo Calafiori has been outstanding in the early weeks of the campaign, but his Arsenal career has already been punctured by injuries. That history will weigh heavily when minutes are handed out in a long European run.
Piero Hincapie, the only defender on the bench against Chelsea, stands ready. Given the schedule, the travel, and the stakes, there is a very real chance he steps into the starting XI in Naples.
Arsenal know exactly how far they went last year. The question now is whether these tweaks, this rotation, and this depth can carry them one step further.
