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Tashan Deniran-Alleyne & Kaya Kaynak & Tom Canton

Arsenal line-ups vs PSV Eindhoven as Gabriel Jesus starts, no Tierney and youngster handed debut

Arsenal have already secured a place in the Europa League knockout round, but they can clinch top spot in Group A by avoiding defeat against PSV Eindhoven.

The teams squared off at the Emirates Stadium just last week with Granit Xhaka netting the only goal of the game to ensure the Gunners are guaranteed a top-two finish. Who wins the group is still up for grabs - although it's safe to say Mikel Arteta's side are heavy favourites.

Five points clear with two games remaining - one of which is at home to a pointless FC Zurich side - it would be a major surprise if Arsenal don't take full advantage of the many advantages that come with topping their Europa League group when the competition resumes in the new year.

READ MORE: Every word Mikel Arteta said on Edu's Arsenal future, Marquinhos' fitness and Lokonga's form

With that in mind, it's absolutely essential that Arteta gets his team selection for the game spot on. Once again, several youngsters are in line to be named on the substitutes bench, with Marquinhos, Emile Smith Rowe, Mohamed Elneny and Oleksandr Zinchenko all absent from Wednesday morning's training session at London Colney.

Now, taking how things currently stand in Group A into consideration, the north London outfit are in a dream position. This could tempt the Spaniard into making wholesale changes from the side that started in the 1-1 draw with Southampton at the weekend, but would this be a massive gamble?

Thankfully for Arteta, football.london's Arsenal writers, Kaya Kaynak, Tom Canton and Tashan Deniran-Alleyne, are on hand to offer their assistance. Below, they take a look at who they think should be starting for the visitors in Thursday evening's clash against PSV Eindhoven.

Kaya Kaynak - Chief Arsenal correspondent

I don't think Mikel Arteta will agree with me, but with the group pretty much secure, I would look to wring the changes for this Europa League game. Arsenal looked knackered against Southampton, so why risk them in Eindhoven.

Turner is an obvious pick in goal, while in front of him I'd play Cedric, Holding and Tierney to give Tomiyasu, White and Saliba a rest. The only survivor for me would be Gabriel who was superb on Sunday and has generally been Arteta's go-to man in these games.

In midfield I'd go for the obvious choices of Albert Sambi Lokonga and Fabio Vieira, but with qualification now secure, why not give Matt Smith a run in the side to allow Granit Xhaka the night off. Smith has done well for the u21s this year and has been an unused sub a whopping 11 times now and is surely deserving of finally becoming the bride and not the bridesmaid.

Up front, I'd play Reiss Nelson on the right as it's probably his best position, and as Marquinhos has not travelled, I would have Gabriel Martinelli start on the left and share the game with Bukayo Saka. Up front would be Eddie Nketiah in the hope that Gabriel Jesus can use the time off to find his shooting boots again.

Kaynak's Arsenal XI vs PSV: Turner; Cedric, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Lokonga, Smith, Vieira; Nelson, Nketiah, Martinelli

Tom Canton - Arsenal Writer

This was easily the trickiest selection of the season so far. Less so for tactical reasons but more so to be able to have a side competitive enough to ensure we do the business and take at least the necessary point away at PSV but also to ensure rest.

To do so, identifying players like Thomas Partey and Gabriel Martinelli who would benefit most from the rest ahead of the match with Nottingham Forest lead this selection. Gabriel Jesus starts in order to firstly help him get a goal to return him to good form but furthermore to have the quality up top necessary to score in Eindhoven.

Mikel Arteta needs to ensure his substitutions are, in part, planned. Taking players like Jesus, Ben White, Bukayo Saka and Granit Xhaka off to give them greater recovery ahead of Sunday.

Arsenal need a response after dropping points for the first time since Old Trafford. Runs without winning undermined the Gunners’ previous season and ensuring that does not repeat in this campaign will be critical to Arteta’s side fulfilling its potential.

Canton's Arsenal XI vs PSV: Turner; White, Holding, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Lokonga, Xhaka, Vieira; Saka, Jesus, Nketiah

Tashan Deniran-Alleyne - Arsenal Writer

With qualification secured and a home game against FC Zurich to fall back on next week, I would be looking to ring the changes If I was in Mikel Arteta's shoes. This includes a first start of the season for Cedric Soares who can replace Takehiro Tomiyasu at right-back, thus giving the Japan international a little breather.

The rest of the back four in front of Matt Turner picks itself as I think Gabriel Magalhaes will continue as the left-sided centre-back with Kieran Tierney getting a chance to stake his claim to be the first-choice left-back in the Premier League after dropping down the pecking order of late.

It feels like Matt Smith is finally on the verge of making his senior debut for Arsenal, but I think a lack of experience will cost him a start against PSV which means Granit Xhaka can complete the midfield trio alongside Sambi Lokonga and Fabio Vieira - two players who need strong performances.

In attack, I'd start Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah on the flanks with Gabriel Jesus through the middle. The Brazilian, I feel, has been harshly criticised recently, but the facts are that he needs a goal and this game could be perfect for him to break his five-game drought and regain his confidence.

Deniran-Alleyne's Arsenal XI vs PSV: Turner; Cedric, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Lokonga, Vieira, Xhaka; Nelson, G. Jesus, Nketiah

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Arsenal line-ups vs PSV Eindhoven as Gabriel Jesus starts, no Tierney and youngster handed debut

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