Mikel Arteta to make three changes vs Brentford as Gunners given injury boost

Mikel Arteta previews Arsenal's trip to Brentford

Mikel Arteta is expected to switch up his starting XI ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Brentford on Saturday with several key players set to return from injury. Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus are back fit while Ben White could return to the fold at the Gtech Community Stadium as well. Here, Express Sport runs through how Arsenal could line up against the Bees.

Goalkeeper – Ramsdale

Arsenal will be without David Raya as he is ineligible to play against his parent club so Aaron Ramsdale will start between the sticks. The Englishman will be secretly hoping for a busy game as he looks to reclaim his position as the starting shot-stopper.

Defence – Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko

Takehiro Tomiyasu is likely to keep his place at right-back ahead of Ben White, who has been carrying a knock that ruled him out of the matchday squad to face Burnley. Arteta is hopeful White will be available for the Brentford game but admitted that he “didn’t look comfortable” in training earlier this week.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba and Oleksandr Zinchenko are all expected to start across the backline. The trio came out of the international break unscathed with plenty of minutes under their belts for their respective national teams.

Midfield – Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice

Martin Odegaard is available to start after recovering from a concussion and should replace Kai Havertz in midfield. Arsenal have lacked a creative spark in the centre of the park in his absence so his return will be met with relief from the Arsenal faithful.

Declan Rice will undoubtedly line up in the holding midfield role while Arteta is left with only Jorginho and Havertz to choose between as the third midfielder with Emile Smith-Rowe out injured and Fabio Vieria serving a suspension for a red card picked up against Burnley. Jorginho has looked the more solid of the pair and so should start.

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Attack – Saka, Jesus, Martinelli

Arteta will have a conundrum on his hands when picking his starting centre-forward. Gabriel Jesus is fit and ready to go but Leandro Trossard has been excellent down the middle in his absence. 

Both players will have a claim to a starting place but Jesus is favoured by the Spaniard so will probably get the nod. As per usual, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are expected to start on the flanks. 

Arsenal’s predicted XI: Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli

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