Having claimed a crucial draw at Manchester City, Arsenal face a very different test at home to Luton Town on Wednesday. The Gunners are firm favourites to win, but will be fully aware that they can’t really afford to drop a single point between now and the end of the season.
“Yes, especially [because of] how tough it was to win and how difficult they have made it for every team,” Mikel Arteta said when asked if he had fond memories of the thrilling 4-3 in December’s reverse fixture at Kenilworth Road. “Big compliments to Rob [Edwards], the coaching staff and what they have done as a club. It’s an amazing journey. I think they deserve more credit than any other team in this league. How they’ve done it, what they transmit as a team and what they generated. It’s going to be a very tough game tomorrow.”
With a tough run against Brighton, Bayern Munich and Wolves to come next week though, Arteta may be tempted to rotate his squad. Luckily for him football.london‘s Arsenal writers are on hand to help out the Spaniard with his dilemma. Here’s who they would pick for the match.
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Kaya Kaynak – Chief Arsenal correspondent
If I were Mikel Arteta I’d be keen to make plenty of changes for this one. I feel like you need as strong a squad as possible for the trips to Brighton and Wolves as well as both legs against Bayern Munich.
With that in mind I’m mixing up the full-back positions for this one. Oleksandr Zinchenko’s ability on the ball could be useful against a Luton defence that has been leaking goals recently, while Takehiro Tomiyasu is a trustworthy option at right-back.
In midfield I’m going for Thomas Partey at the base and giving Jorginho a rest. I think you can go nice and attacking in front of him so I’m opting for Emile Smith Rowe in the left eight alongside Martin Odegaard. That means Declan Rice gets a rare rest too.
If Bukayo Saka is a doubt then there’s no way I’m risking him. Leandro Trossard on the right hand side is a good replacement, while Kai Havertz can start up front with Gabriel Jesus keeping his place on the left.
Kaynak’s Arsenal XI vs Luton: Raya; Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Odegaard, Smith Rowe; Trossard, Havertz, Jesus.
Tom Canton – Arsenal writer
Arsenal enter an important phase of the season not only because they have a great chance of winning the title but because the games are coming thick and fast. Arsenal will play eight games this month with a chance, should they knock Bayern Munich out in the Champions League, that they will not have a midweek break until the final week of the season.
Therefore rotation is going to be paramount and Mikel Arteta needs to see games like Luton Town at home, with respect to Rob Edwards’ side, as a chance to swap out and rest players before the tricky trip to Brighton this weekend. Therefore whilst David Raya remains in goal I have made a couple changes to the back line.
Gabriel Magalhaes pulled out of international duty with Brazil and having a chance to rest him here with Takehiro Tomiyasu ready to come in makes sense. Meanwhile, Jakub Kiwior came off shattered at Man City following 210-plus minutes played for Poland and so Oleksandr Zinchenko can come in comfortably at left-back.
Into midfield and Thomas Partey impressed in his small cameo against City and therefore can come in to make a first start since August. Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard however can be often relied upon to play through games with the players on the bench to bring them off later should the game allow.
Up top and Bukayo Saka might be fit but a rest would do him no harm with Gabriel Jesus swapping to the right wing. Kai Havertz continues up top with Gabriel Martinelli returning to the left to build up some match fitness after recovering from a bad cut against Sheffield United.
Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Luton Town: Raya; White, Saliba, Tomiyasu, Zinchenko; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Jesus, Havertz, Martinelli.
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