Arsenal travel to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League last-16 second leg on Wednesday evening knowing a positive result will take them a huge step closer to the quarter-finals. But behind the scenes, Mikel Arteta is fighting a full-scale injury crisis — and he has just unleashed one of the most dramatic team selections of the season.
After rotating heavily for the FA Cup win at Mansfield, the Arsenal boss is preparing to make a staggering 10 changes from his most recent Premier League line-up. The Spaniard revealed post-Mansfield that Declan Rice, Gabriel Magalhães and new signing Martin Zubimendi were all rested with various fitness concerns. On top of that, Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard both picked up muscular injuries at Field Mill and will be assessed right up until kick-off.
Mikel Merino, Ben White and captain Martin Ødegaard remain sidelined, while William Saliba is a major doubt after missing the last two games with an ankle problem. That takes the injury list to nine separate issues — the biggest headache Arteta has faced all season.
Arteta is expected to give the latest update on the walking wounded during Tuesday’s pre-match press conference, but sources close to the club say he has already decided on a radical overhaul to keep legs fresh for the biggest week of the campaign.
Here is the bombshell XI Arsenal are set to unleash in Germany:
GK: David Raya Back between the sticks after rotation — no debate.
DEFENCE If Saliba is passed fit (and everything points to him starting), he partners Gabriel Magalhães at centre-back. Jurrien Timber returns at right-back, while Piero Hincapié — who impressed in recent outings — slots in at left-back. Should Saliba fail his fitness test, teenage sensation Cristhian Mosquera steps in alongside Gabriel, with Myles Lewis-Skelly potentially shifting to left-back and Hincapié moving inside — exactly as they did at Brighton.
MIDFIELD Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi are both expected to be available and will start. They are joined by Eberechi Eze, who is in red-hot form after his stunner at Mansfield. Kai Havertz is the only realistic alternative if Arteta wants extra height or experience.
ATTACK With Leandro Trossard almost certainly ruled out, the front line picks itself: Gabriel Martinelli returns on the left — a player who thrived in last season’s Champions League knockout stages, including his famous goal at the Bernabéu. Bukayo Saka is untouchable on the right after his 300th Arsenal appearance and winning goal at Brighton. Up top, Viktor Gyökeres leads the line and will be desperate to add to his four Champions League group-stage goals.
Bench options that could change the game Noni Madueke is ready to make a huge impact from the bench, while Lewis-Skelly, Mosquera and Havertz give Arteta tactical flexibility.
This is not just rotation — this is Arsenal 2.0 for the biggest night of the season. Ten changes. Nine injury worries. One clear message from Mikel Arteta: no matter who is missing, we are coming to win in Leverkusen.
The full squad will be confirmed after Tuesday’s press conference, but one thing is already certain — the Gunners are ready to drop a bombshell on the Champions League.