Ostersunds vs Arsenal
The Europa League swings back into life on Thursday with the last 32 of the competition.
Arsenal, the sole surviving Premier League side in the UEL, head to Sweden to take on minnows Ostersunds.
Will Arsenal progress through to the last-16? Their fans will hope so as, following last weekend’s defeat to Tottenham in the north London derby, Arsenal’s best hope of entering next’s season Champions League may be through this tournament.
Arsenal’s predicted surprise XI
So how will Arsenal line up against Ostersunds?
Until this point in the competition, Arsene Wenger has been generally fielding a B-team in the Europa League.
Youngsters and fringe players have been offered opportunities to shine for Arsenal in the tournament.
But, as the final stages begin, Wenger is poised to shake up his tactics.
The Times on Thursday have predicted how Arsenal will line-up in Scandinavia, and the possible Gunners XI is as follows:
D Ospina — H Bellerín, S Mustafi, N Monreal, A Maitland-Niles — M Elneny, G Xhaka — H Mkhitaryan, M Özil, A Iwobi — D Welbeck.
Times: Arsenal predicted XI vs Ostersunds
Starting at the back, some fans may wonder if Wenger should play Laurent Kosceilny against Ostersunds.
Should Ainsley Maitland-Niles be picked at left-back? And what’s happened to Sead Kolasinac?
In midfield there’s no room for Jack Wilshere in the Times’s predicted XI.
Alex Iwobi’s selection in the team will also likely raise some eyebrows.
As for Danny Welbeck starting up-front, that was always on the cards after news broke this week that Alexandre Lacazette is now injured for four to six weeks following an operation on his knee.
Also see: Ostersunds vs Arsenal predictions: Europa League preview, line-ups & football betting tips.
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