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football.london takes a look at the changes Mikel Arteta could make to his Arsenal team ahead of Bayern Munich clash
Arsenal have a very difficult week ahead of them and the win over Tottenham in the North London Derby has kicked things off in the perfect way. That said, there was one element that has rightfully raised some eyebrows and not for a good reason.
The lack of changes before the final minutes of the affair, especially with Bayern Munich and Chelsea to come, has been questioned by many. Considering the club’s current injury situation, it is a fair query when so many starters stayed on the field as long as they did.
Could it point, however, to several changes for the game against the German champions in midweek as a result? Vincent Kompany’s side comes off the back of a 6-2 drubbing of Freiburg last weekend, but without star winger Luis Diaz, who is suspended.
Arsenal already have four wins from four in the competition and are well placed to secure a top-eight finish. Therefore, with the Stamford Bridge trip just days after Bayern's visit, it has been posited that Arteta would be better off resting some key players.
There is additional context that we do not yet know who of the missing players could also return, but from the weekend’s squad, some changes can be made. In the back line is where the most change can happen.
Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera and Myles Lewis-Skelly can all give important rest to Jurrien Timber, William Saliba and Riccardo Calafiori. Piero Hincapie, however, needs more minutes at left centre-half as he continues to replace Gabriel Magalhaes.
Into midfield, and here is where change is difficult to see. Without Martin Odegaard, it is tricky to justify any changes to the established trio unless you move Merino back into the middle third.
Up top, Merino comes out, and Leandro Trossard moves centrally. Then Noni Madueke is given a start with Bukayo Saka on the other flank as Gabriel Martinelli is also an option to move into the team, but it might be that he is eased back in.
Changed Arsenal XI vs Bayern Munich; Raya; White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Saka, Trossard, Madueke
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