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Mikel Merino heads towards Nottingham Forest goal

Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs PSV in Champions League Last 16

Arsenal take on PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League last 16, with both sides turning their attentions to Europe for silverware after falling behind in their league title races.

Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs PSV: Gunners Aim to Continue European Run

How Arsenal Have Lined-up Recently

The clean sheet that David Raya kept against Nottingham Forest was the only real highlight in the disappointing 0-0 draw in Arsenal’s last match.

Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori started in defence.

Starting in midfield, Martin Odegaard played alongside Jorginho and Declan Rice.

Once again, Arteta’s choice of attacking personnel has been the most interesting feature of the Arsenal line-up. Mikel Merino made another start up front, supported by Ethan Nwaneri and Leandro Trossard.

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Arsenal Recent Form and Tactics

Slipping behind in the Premier League title race, Arsenal’s form has dropped recently, with a draw and a loss in their last two matches. Across their last 10 games, the Reds have five wins, two draws and three losses.

Despite the various injuries to their forward line, Arsenal still have 17 goals across those last ten games, conceding eight.

Arsenal and PSV have met 10 times in the Champions League and Europa League. The Gunners have the better record with four wins, four draws and two losses against Rood-witten. The last head-to-head ended in a 1-1 draw during a group stage match back in late 2023, following Arsenal’s 4-0 drubbing of PSV in the game before.

Tactically, Arteta will set up his side in the usual 4-3-3, but has hinted that tweaks may be necessary to respond to how PSV approach the match.

Arteta said: “Normally [PSV] behave in a different way [in Europe], but I don’t know, because they have done different things, special things depending on home or away so we’ll have to wait and see.”

Arsenal Injuries and Absentees to Consider

With no new updates in Arteta’s latest press conference, the Gunners still have a number of injuries, with multiple players still out.

Speaking on Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli after the Nottingham Forest draw, Arteta said: “They’ve been out for a long, long time, so we’re going to have to integrate them as well, probably gradually. So they’re evolving well, but they’re still a bit far.”

Saka and Martinelli could return after the March international break.

Myles Lewis-Skelly is also available for selection after his one-match ban.

Meanwhile, long term injuries include the likes of Kai Havertz, who has successfully undergone surgery and is expected to return this summer. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel Jesus are also still recovering and will remain unavailable for the foreseeable.

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Arsenal Predicted Lineup Vs PSV

GK: David Raya

RB: Jurrien Timber

CB: William Saliba

CB: Gabriel Magalhaes

LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly

CM: Thomas Partey

CM: Declan Rice

CM: Martin Odegaard

RW: Ethan Nwaneri

STR: Leandro Trossard

LW: Raheem Sterling

About Declan Wiseman, Editor

Declan has over 11 years of sports and commercial writing experience. Graduating with a Masters in Journalism (Sports) from the University of Sunderland, he now enjoys his role editing and writing football content for Last Word on Sports.

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