In a parallel universe, Arsenal are playing a vengeful Manchester City side looking to defend their four-point lead at the top of the Premier League table somewhere this week. In this one though, they have PSV at home to contend with instead.
It may have come later than expected, but this is probably the hardest game Mikel Arteta's side will face in the group stages of their Europa League campaign this season. When asked if he was fortuitous at the nature of the scheduling, the Gunners boss was keen instead to focus on the here and now.
"It's what it is, obviously," he said, doing his best Love Island impersonation at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday. "The fixtures and the amount of games that we have, we're going to have to play everybody. We had to change the schedule, and we've adapted to that." Despite the arguable fortune of when Arsenal will meet Ruud Van Nistelrooy's men, Arteta might well argue that the fates have been against him when it comes to the amount of players he has to pick a team.
READ MORE: Every word Mikel Arteta said on Martinelli's fitness, Zinchenko injury, Klopp and Arsenal vs PSV
The Spaniard complained about having just 16 players to choose from in his side's trip to Norway to play Bodo/Glimt last week. This time around, that number may have decreased even further.
One player who he will be able to count on is Matt Turner. The American stopper revealed the amusing start to a path which led him to north London as he was put in front of the press at London Colney on Wednesday and appears to have split opinion among Arsenal fans. Some are gradually coming around to the idea of being comfortable with him as their second-choice goalkeeper, but for others, there is still work to do.
Turner's time on the pitch has been limited, but he is one-upped in that department by Cedric, who is still yet to play a minute this season. The Portuguese international has been available for the last couple of Europa League matches but has yet to be used thus far. With the fatigue demonstrated by Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White at Leeds, though, surely now is the time to play him.
In the middle, Rob Holding will come into the side and probably switch back over to the left, assuming it's Gabriel who plays. Arteta implied the Brazilian sailed close to the edge with his actions in the dying stages at Elland Road, but with William Saliba probably in need of a rest, it makes sense to go with him again. That opens the pathway for Kieran Tierney to start. The Scot would surely have been left frustrated after being overlooked again against Leeds and will want to make his point for a starting spot this time out against PSV.
In midfield, the picks of Albert Sambi Lokonga and Fabio Vieira are relatively obvious, but who Arteta opts for to join them will be fascinating. Martin Odegaard and Granit Xhaka have generally shared the burden of these Europa League matches in the absence of Mohamed Elneny, so you would assume it will be between one of the two. With PSV's superb attacking statistics this season, maybe the more disciplined nature of Xhaka will be the path Arteta goes down.
Up top, Gabriel Martinelli's absence from training will be a worry. Arsenal confirmed to football.london that it was nothing more than a bug which kept him out of the session, but with Southampton coming up this weekend, it feels crazy to risk him. That's particularly when you have Reiss Nelson eager to impress on the sidelines after failing to grab the game by the scruff of the neck against Bodo/Glimt last week.
That creates something of a problem in itself for Arteta though. Against the strength of PSV, he will surely be wary of playing both Nelson and Marquinhos together, so you get the feeling it will have to be one of Gabriel Jesus or Bukayo Saka joining Eddie Nketiah in completing the front three. Jesus looked absolutely exhausted at Elland Road despite not even travelling to Norway, so logic would dictate he will be given the night off on Thursday. That would mean Saka has to start his fourth game in a row, and in doing so, will surely create some doubts over how many minutes he's playing at such a young age yet again.
READ NEXT:
Stan Kroenke handed £504m bill that could hit Edu and Mikel Arteta transfer plans at Arsenal
Mikel Arteta pushed to repeat £25m plan for Arsenal's Hale End superstar amid full-back decision
Why Arsenal vs Man City Premier League clash was postponed and when it could be rearranged
Premier League plot major season changes that will impact Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham
Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from the Emirates Stadium
