Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Arsenal could line up for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was able to deliver a few positive injury updates ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest at the Emirates.
The Gunners are definitely without Ben White for a number of months following his knee operation, while Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) and Kieran Tierney (hamstring) are still missing.
However, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are expected to be OK after withdrawing from the England squad as a precaution, while Leandro Trossard‘s injury on Belgium duty is nothing serious either.
Arteta also confirmed that Riccardo Calafiori is set to make his comeback from the knee injury he sustained in October, so the Italian could take up left-back duties again as Jurrien Timber moves over to the right in place of White.
Rearguard cornerstones Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba and David Raya should all reprise their roles, and the same goes for Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard – who withdrew from the Norway squad as a precaution – in midfield.
Rice should also be given the all-clear to start in the left eight role, although Mikel Merino did put in a strong performance against Chelsea off the bench, and the same goes for Saka on the right-hand side.
Raheem Sterling is back in the ranks after being unable to face his parent team two weeks ago, but Gabriel Martinelli is a surefire starter on the left, while Kai Havertz has scored all four of his top-flight goals this season at the Emirates.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
> Click here to see how Forest could line up for this clash
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