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Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson recall scenario with Arsenal quartet to miss Man City clash

Mikel Arteta could face a few dilemmas when it comes to plotting a positive result for Arsenal against Manchester City.

One is who starts on the left-wing. So far this season, Gabriel Martinelli has been the undisputed first-choice option in this position, particularly in the Premier League having started every single game, often alongside Bukayo Saka in the front three and more recently offering support to Eddie Nketiah as the central striker.

However, the Brazilian's form since the turn of the year has been a concern for some Arsenal fans and with Leandro Trossard - his replacement against Brentford at the weekend - climbing off the bench to break the deadlock, does Arteta keep faith in the 22-year-old or turn to his January signing?

READ MORE: Arsenal vs Man City lineups: Martinelli or Trossard decision, Saka starts, Nelson returns

That question will be answered an hour before kick-off at the Emirates Stadium this evening and another decision the Spaniard may have to make is which first-team players are left out of the 20-man matchday squad that he is permitted to name as it is a Premier League fixture.

At the weekend it was a straightforward choice for the Spaniard as Mohamed Elneny was absent because of injury, Gabriel Jesus wasn't ready to return despite making great progress following knee surgery and Karl Hein wasn't selected with Matt Turner providing cover for Aaron Ramsdale on the bench.

Meanwhile, despite taking part in training ahead of the Brentford clash, neither Emile Smith Rowe nor Reiss Nelson were expected to feature on Saturday afternoon and that proved to be the case which in turn allowed wonderkid Amario Cozier-Duberry to get another taste of a first-team matchday squad experience.

Although, Arsenal's situation may have changed slightly for the visit of Man City. Whilst Arteta has confirmed a partial bit of team news by revealing "everybody available that we had from the previous game so far unless something strange happens today in their beds!" he could be in a position to recall two senior players.

Interestingly the Gunners manager didn't confirm nor deny if Smith Rowe and/or Nelson would be available for selection: "I will do the list now," he told football.london. "So I will make that decision."

Should it be decided that the aforementioned pair are passed fit then excluding Hein (for reasons mentioned above) as well as Elneny and Jesus, it means 21 of the 24 senior Arsenal players - going by the club's official website - will be in contention to be named in the matchday squad for the visit of Pep Guardiola's side.

But it should be pointed out that whilst Cozier-Duberry is perhaps most at risk of being replaced on the substitutes bench, another player who was involved against Brentford must also drop out in order for both Smith Rowe and Nelson to be included as the matchday squad limit is 20.

Alternatively, Arteta may opt to hold one or both of the Hale End academy graduates back with upcoming trips to Aston Villa and Leicester City before the end of the month which means the Arsenal matchday squad could be unchanged for the third successive game.

READ NEXT:

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