BERND LENO is expected to return to the Arsenal starting XI for the club’s Carabao Cup third round clash against AFC Wimbledon at the Emirates.
The Gunners face the League One outfit on Wednesday night with Mikel Arteta likely to make a number of changes ahead of Sunday’s North London derby.
Arsenal could make nine changes from the team that beat Burnley 1-0 at Turf Moor last time out.
That is despite Spanish gaffer Arteta stating he will field a competitive team against Mark Robinson’s men.
Asked whether he will rotate his side in his pre-match press conference, he said: “I hope that I can put out the strongest team I can.
“That means that the players have performed really well and then give a really strong performance and this is what we want to do.”
Then pressed on if he will give players in the squad minutes who deserve it, he remarked: “Absolutely and you have to praise that for sure.
“Let’s see who’s available, how they recover and what is the best way to approach the game.”
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With Arsenal having the opportunity to leapfrog Tottenham in the Premier League table, it seems unlikely the club will field a full-strength team.
Here SunSport takes a look at how Arsenal could start against AFC Wimbledon.
German goalkeeper Leno should be back between the sticks after being benched for the last two top-flight matches.
Aaron Ramsdale has been preferred over the ex-Bayer Leverkusen shot-stopper after he conceded nine goals in the first three Premier League games.
Arteta could also rest the back four that has kept back-to-back clean sheets in the wins over Norwich and the Clarets.
This could see Euro 2016 winner Cedric Soares starting at right-back in front of Takehiro Tomiyasi.
His Portuguese compatriot Nuno Tavares is likely to replace Kieran Tierney on the opposite side for his second start of the season.
And Rob Holding could partner Pablo Mari at the back at the expense of Ben White and Gabriel.
Thomas Partey is unlikely to start after being substituted against Burnley due to cramp, meanwhile Granit Xhaka is suspended and Mohamed Elneny is recovering from a hamstring injury.
As a result, Albert Sambi Lokonga could start alongside Ainsley Maitland-Niles in the middle of the pitch.
Emile Smith Rowe could then feature in the No10 role, with Ivorian ace Nicolas Pepe to slot it on the right wing.
Brazil’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallist Gabriel Martinelli is likely to feature on the left after being benched for the last three fixtures.
And French striker Alexandre Lacazette could be tasked with leading the line in what would be his first start of the campaign.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
