Mikel Merino could start as Arsenal’s No9 for the third game in a row when they travel to PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday night.
Arsenal have been hit hard by injuries in attack and are without four forwards at the moment.
Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are due back in action next month, while Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are out for the rest of the season.
The lack of options has forced Mikel Arteta to use Merino as an emergency No9 and the midfielder could start there again in Eindhoven on Tuesday.
Merino would likely be flanked by Ethan Nwaneri and Leandro Trossard, who have also started the last two games.
Nwaneri came off before the end of last week’s 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest, but Arteta confirmed after that was just due to cramp.
Arteta’s real selection headaches come in defence, where Arsenal have been boosted by the return of Ben White after he underwent knee surgery in November.
Myles Lewis-Skelly is also available, too, after being suspended for last week’s goalless draw sat Forest.
Thomas Partey will hope to come into the midfield after being on the bench for the game at Forest last week, with Jorginho getting the nod ahead of him.
Arsenal predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard
Arsenal squad from: Neto, Raya, Setford; Calafiori, Gabriel, Kacurri, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Saliba, Tierney, Timber, Zinchenko; Jorginho, Merino, Nwaneri, Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Sterling and Trossard.
Injured: Havertz (hamstring), Jesus (knee), Martinelli (hamstring), Saka (hamstring), Tomiyasu (knee)
Time and date: 8pm GMT on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
Venue: Philips Stadion, Eindhoven
TV channel and live stream: Amazon Prime
Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano
