Arsenal fans, hold onto your seats — Mikel Arteta has just unleashed a lineup twist so explosive it could leave Bayer Leverkusen shell-shocked before the first whistle even blows at the BayArena tonight!
After rotating heavily and resting key stars during Saturday’s FA Cup romp against Mansfield, the Gunners are heading into this Champions League last-16 first leg with a triple fitness boost that changes everything. David Raya, Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Gabriel all had the afternoon off against League One opposition — and every single one of them is walking straight back into the starting XI. That’s four massive upgrades in one go.
But wait… it gets even better.
William Saliba missed the last two games with an ankle injury, yet he was spotted in first-team training on Tuesday looking sharp. Arteta confirmed the Frenchman is fully fit and ready to start. “He’s available,” the boss said with that knowing smile — and you just know Saliba’s return at the heart of defence is going to make Leverkusen’s attack rethink their entire game plan.
Even more shocking? Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori, both forced off with minor knocks against Mansfield, trained with the first team on Tuesday. Arteta refused to rule them out completely, telling reporters: “Those two are a possibility that they are available, and we’ll see tomorrow how we use them.”
However, here comes the real bombshell — Arteta is seriously considering starting Gabriel Martinelli on the left even if Trossard is fit. Why? Because the Brazilian has been an absolute monster in Europe this season: SIX Champions League goals already, despite starting just four matches. The Leverkusen defenders have been warned.
The only cloud in the sky is Martin Ødegaard. The captain is still struggling with a knee issue and has been officially ruled out of tonight’s clash. That leaves a huge decision at No.10 — and Arteta looks set to hand the keys to Eberechi Eze. With Arsenal still being ultra-cautious over Kai Havertz’s fitness, the former Crystal Palace man is primed to deliver a masterclass in the hole.
Ben White also missed Tuesday’s session — it’s now almost a month since we last saw him — but he has travelled with the squad to Germany, keeping hope alive for a late cameo.
Here is the jaw-dropping predicted Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1) that has Gunners fans buzzing:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Eze, Martinelli; Gyokeres
Injured: Merino, Ødegaard Doubts: White, Trossard, Calafiori
This isn’t just a team — this is a statement. Full-strength defence, midfield steel, and an attacking line-up built for chaos. Leverkusen were expecting a tired Arsenal side after the weekend rotation. Instead, they’re about to face the strongest possible Gunners eleven, fresh, fired up, and ready to blow the tie wide open.
Kick-off is 5.45pm GMT on Wednesday 11 March 2026 at the BayArena in Leverkusen. You can catch every single minute live on TNT Sports.
Buckle up, Gooners — this is the night Arsenal remind Europe exactly who they are. The bombshell has been dropped. The Leverkusen never saw it coming. And the Champions League is about to feel the heat! 🔥