Arsenal play Östersunds FK in the second leg of their round-of-32 tie on Thursday night, and with a cup final at the weekend, you can expect changes to the starting lineup.
Arsenal take a 3-0 aggregate lead into the match at the Emirates after a professional win in Sweden. After that match, Arsene Wenger told the media he hadn’t decided on this week’s lineup yet, but might rest some players.
“I will try to win the game again,” he insisted. “Maybe I will rotate and play the players who didn’t play tonight and rest one or two players.”
There are one or two players who certainly won’t be involved in the match.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is cup-tied, and Aaron Ramsey is still recovering from injury. Ramsey is back in training with the group as of Wednesday morning, but Wenger said last week he certainly won’t be available for Thursday’s match.
Mesut Özil has been sick again this week, so he won’t play either.
Wenger says Ozil has been sick this week and won't play tomorrow: "He was in bed Monday, Tuesday for sickness. I would certainly have played him, but because he was sick he will have to work hard tomorrow and will not be involved (in the game)." Mkhitaryan will play.
— Mattias Karén (@MattiasKaren) February 21, 2018
On the other hand, Henrikh Mkhitaryan will certainly start against Östersund.
He is cup-tied for the League Cup final, so there’s no point giving him a rest.
Arsene Wenger confirmed the Armenian will play on Thursday, as well as Danny Welbeck.
https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/966291822837420033
Wenger confirms Danny Welbeck will start against Ostersund tomorrow.
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) February 21, 2018
Meanwhile, Joe Willock, Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah all missed out on Arsenal’s u23 match on Monday, so they’ll all probably play some part.
After that, it’s a guessing game at who Wenger might pick, and who he’ll rest.