⚽️ Europa League | Arsenal vs Sporting | Thu, 20:00 - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

⚽️ Europa League | Arsenal vs Sporting | Thu, 20:00

goon

Gotta make the most of this competition while we can because we're back in the big time next season.

Tough one to call. I'd want to give Kiwior another game but then I want to rest Saliba this time, so logic dictates you'd have to play Holding and Gabriel. I think one of the problems with playing first teamers is they might be thinking of the weekend, at least subconsciously. Better off playing the likes of Tomi, KT, Vieira and ESR who should be eager to prove themselves.

Turner

Tomi - Holding - Gabriel - Tierney

Odegaard - Jorginho - Vieira

Nelson - Trossard - ESR

I suspect we might see Martinelli play though, and possibly one of White and Zinny but I don't think that worked last time. I hope Saka given a rest.

Claudius

I like that lineup.
Only change I would make is play Kiwior and Saliba. We have to invest in Kiwior. We spent a lot of money on him. Holding is now strictly break glass in case of emergency.

MistaT

Great looking lineup and smart approach to building it.

Wouldn’t be surprised to see Partey start with hopes we can rest him just after half.

Claudius

MistaT I doubt Partey starts. Partey was a low minute player at Atletico. Played few games and finished few games. The doctors there must’ve figured he was brittle. So I imagine Arteta will bring him on at halftime if we are struggling and late on if we are doing well just to let him get a stretch before Palace.

Don Pacifico

Agree with Claud on the CB situation.

I'd also prefer Xhaka to start over Odegaard but wouldn't die in a ditch over it.

RowJimmy

I'd rest Ode, move Viera into that slot, and play Xhaka.

I am Arsenal Till I Die

If Arteta's rotation in the group games is anything to go by, he will rest the first teamers that played last Thursday and play the ones he rested. For example, I can see Saliba rested with Gabriel playing. Xhaka rested with Ødegaard playing etc. Although since both Saka and Martinelli started last Thursday, not sure how he will handle them. I can see Martinelli starting though as he will have two weeks of rest after Palace. Tomi, Jorginho, KT, Reiss to also come in.

30 mins for Jesus would be amazing.

Pepe LeFrits

Gabriel has played more mins than anyone else in the squad (more than 2 full matches than the next nearest, Saka), so I'd like to see him rested. I also agree with Claude that we need to invest in Kiwior. If Gabriel picks up an injury in the run-in we'll want him to have as much experience as possible. I'd honestly start Holding along side him too. We are at home, we should be able put Sporting away even our CBs aren't that sharp. Illness impacted us in the first leg but we should have a VERY strong bench for this as well as probably a pretty strong starting eleven. I think I would probably rest Xhaka and play Odegaard.

goon

Pepe LeFrits he will have two weeks off after Leeds tbf with the international break. He also had two months off during the World Cup.

Pepe LeFrits

Is Nketiah likely to return to fitness?

invisibleman18

Haven't paid much attention to Europe in the last couple of years when we haven't been in it - did they abolish away goals so we need to win on the day, or is 0-0 or 1-1 still enough?

QuincyAbeyie

Away goals are no more.

invisibleman18

Thanks. I remembered the idea being mentioned but hadn't paid attention (or forgot) the outcome since it didn't impact us at the time.

Qwiss

I think being at home we can go for a weak-ish squad. Vieira and Jorginho definitely in midfield. Maybe with Xhaka since Ode had the break last week. I'd definitely go with Holding in the defence, I'd only play Kiwior if Tierney is fit. I think last week he was a little exposed playing with Zinchenko.

MistaT

Qwiss -- I do think we ask a lot of our LCB when we play Zinchenko, but that can be slightly offset with Xhaka playing a more reserved role. Not sure it makes sense to ask that of Xhaka at home vs Sporting though....

Personally, I'm concerned about playing Kiwior alongside Jorginho, Zinchenko, and Xhaka. That's a very slow set of players in front of a CB that is still coming up to speed. Probably best to play Gabriel if that trio is playing, and then rest Saliba, or bring Tierney (in a more traditional LB role) in to help cover Kiwior.

Qwiss

MistaT Personally, I'm concerned about playing Kiwior alongside Jorginho, Zinchenko, and Xhaka. That's a very slow set of players in front of a CB that is still coming up to speed.

Very true. It'd be one thing if we had Partey to shield him. Maybe see how the match is going on get Kiwior on at half time.

RocktheCasbah

I'm kinda relaxed about the team tomorrow, I think we've got a big enough squad now to trust that Mikel will find the right balance to get us through. However, I am very much not down with the idea that Kiwior and Holding should start the game tomorrow, one of Gabriel & Saliba should - and, in my opinion, will - play.

Burnwinter

Kiwior was poor in the first leg, I believe he has to play though.

Rob would likely perform better, but we know what he's capable of, and he fully accepts his backup status and loves Arsenal.

Kiwior meanwhile both needs and deserves minutes and we ideally want our investment in him to start to work out prior to next season, when his contributions will become more important.

Claudius

Holding makes the whole team weaker when he plays @Burnwinter. Goes back to the principles you talk about in the other thread. We should only throw him for last ten minutes of games

Qwiss

Claudius Holdings very solid. If he'd played last week we'd have won comfortably. I wouldn't write off Kiwior yet but he needs more time to settle by the looks of it. If we had any injury or suspension to our centre halfs between now and the end of the season I'd go Holding over Kiwior every time (though I'd probably have White and Tomi over either at CB anyway).

Burnwinter

You're right, Holding's a weakness. But all else being equal, far more experienced and I reckon he performs up there with what Kiwior produced in Lisbon. Anyway, we've got five subs so plenty of latitude for Arteta to balance making sure Kiwior gets minutes with not throwing this tie out the window.