Arsenal are without Kai Havertz as well as Bukayo Saka as they begin 2025 away at Brentford in the Premier League this evening.
The Gunners managed a 1-0 win over Ipswich in the first game Saka missed after hamstring surgery that could keep him out until March.
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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta had big decisions over the make-up of his attack for the trip to the Gtech Community Stadium on New Year’s Day.
Havertz could have been moved up front in place of Gabriel Jesus after scoring the winner from midfield on Friday, though ends up missing the game entirely.
Jesus scored five goals in two games against Crystal Palace last month, but he drew a blank at home to Ipswich.
Leandro Trossard set up Arsenal’s only goal in their 1-0 win over Ipswich though he is replaced by young Ethan Nwaneri in the starting XI tonight.
Nwaneri could be playing in place of Saka on the right, with Gabriel Martinelli switching back to the left flank and Jesus still up front.
Raheem Sterling’s knee injury is not as bad as first feared, but he misses this trip to Brentford as expected.
Teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly is replaced by Riccardo Calafiori at left-back, while Mikel Merino and Thomas Partey both come into midfield with Havertz out and Declan Rice only on the bench.
The rest of the defence is settled and remains the same, with Jurrien Timber cementing his spot as Arsenal’s right-back in the absence of Ben White.
Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Partey, Merino, Odegaard, Nwaneri, Martinelli, Jesus
Subs: Neto, Kiwior, Tierney, Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly, Jorginho, Rice, Kabia, Trossard
Injured: Saka (hamstring), Sterling (knee), Tomiyasu (knee), White (knee)
Venue: Gtech Community Stadium
Referee: Peter Bankes
Time and date: 5.30pm on Wednesday, January 1, 2024
TV channel and live stream: TNT Sports
