Arsenal welcome Ipswich Town to the Emirates Stadium this evening, knowing a win could propel them into second place in the Premier League standings.
With both Chelsea and Manchester City slipping up yesterday, the Gunners have the perfect chance to capitalise and close the gap on league leaders Liverpool in front of their home fans.
Mikel Arteta will be without Bukayo Saka for the coming weeks after the winger suffered a hamstring tear in last weekend’s emphatic 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace. Gabriel Martinelli shifts over to the right flank in his absence, while Leandro Trossard comes back into the side on the left.
David Raya retains his place in goal, with Jurrien Timber again starting at right-back. William Saliba partners Gabriel Magalhaes at the heart of the defence, and academy product Myles Lewis-Skelly keeps his spot at left-back.
Declan Rice returns to the starting XI after shaking off a recent knock, while captain Martin Odegaard will once again pull the strings in midfield. Kai Havertz drops into a deeper role, as Gabriel Jesus leads the line, fresh from hitting five goals in his last two outings.
Raheem Sterling’s knee injury sidelines him for several weeks, leaving Ethan Nwaneri as Arsenal’s only senior attacking substitute.
Confirmed line-ups:
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Odegaard, Havertz, Trossard, Martinelli, Jesus.
Subs: Neto, Tierney, Kiwior, Calafiori, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Partey, Merino, Nwaneri.
Ipswich: Muric; O’Shea, Woolfenden, Greaves; Johnson, Phillips, Cajuste, Davis; Hutchinson, Szmodics; Delap.
Subs: Walton, Clarke, Townsend, Taylor, Burns, Chaplin, Al-Hamadi, Broadhead, Clarke.