Calafiori first start, Havertz benched, Rice returns – Arsenal vs Atalanta line-ups
Arsenal kick off their Champions League journey for the brand new season in a new-look format with a trip to Italy to take on Atalanta. The Europa League winners battered Bayer Leverkusen in the final but have been hit for four already this season by Inter Milan giving Mikel Arteta plenty of encouragement to come away with a perfect start.
Injuries remain an issue for Arsenal but there is good news with some having recovered from their North London Derby problems and were involved in the pre-match training session. Arsenal know that a win here would be the perfect setup for their return to England and clash with Manchester City this weekend but managing minutes is also key.
Questions over Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Ethan Nwaneri’s potential involvement have surfaced. Thankfully, we have the people to ask ready to give their views.
A fantastic game for the neutral but with City on the weekend perhaps a logistical nightmare for Mikel Arteta. Finding a way to integrate some rotation while keeping the team to a requisite level to take on the Europa League winners Atalanta is not easy.
The only change to the defence I’d make, following his return to training this week, is Riccardo Calafiori starting at left-back. This offers Jurrien Timber, who has suffered from load-bearing issues this summer, a much-needed rest.
The midfield sees Declan Rice return for me with Thomas Partey who I would be bringing off for Jorginho in the second half, hopefully with a strong lead secured. Ethan Nwaneri is my wildcard pick for the midfield in space of Martin Odegaard as the plan to sustain the skipper’s absence goes on.
Raheem Sterling gets his first Arsenal start for me but I would keep both Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka in the forward line with him. Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard offer an entire swap to the front three later on in the game.
Arsenal XI vs Atalanta: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Partey, Rice, Nwaneri; Saka, Havertz, Sterling
