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Arsenal team news vs BATE Borisov: Predicted line up – No Ozil or Ramsey, Suarez starts
ARSENAL are plagued by injuries ahead of their Europa League Round of 32 clash with BATE Borisov tonight (5.55pm).
Arsenal will be without a number of first-team stars when they face BATE Borisov in Belarus.
Unai Emery’s squad has been decimated by injury recently with midfield stars Mesut Ozil (illness) and Aaron Ramsey (knee) the latest players sidelined.
However, there is some good news for the Gunners with Granit Xhaka and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang both back in training after missing Saturday’s win over Huddersfield.
Speaking ahead of the clash with BATE, Emery said: "The players we didn't bring in the squad were because Aaron Ramsey did not train with us and Sokratis [Papastathopoulos] only started training on Tuesday and Wednesday, and I don't think it's enough.
"Mesut is the same. Aubameyang, after he was sick, trained this week, and I think he's OK for the match."
Ozil, Ramsey and Sokratis have all been left at home while a host of other players are also on the treatment table.
Hector Bellerin is out for the season after rupturing a cruciate ligament while Danny Welbeck is also a long-term absentee following a broken ankle.
Rob Holding is another player unlikely to feature again this campaign after a serious knee injury, leaving Arsenal short on defensive personnel.
Emery could opt for a three-man defence made up of Shkodran Mustafi, Laurent Koscielny and the versatile Nacho Monreal.
The Gunners have the possibility of deploying wing-backs with Sead Kolasinac having impressed on the left in recent weeks.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles is expected to get the nod over Stephan Lichtsteiner on the other flank while Lucas Torreira will partner Matteo Guendouzi in central midfield if Xhaka is not risked.
Denis Suarez could be handed his full debut after being included in the squad following his loan move from Barcelona while Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Alex Iwobi are in contention to start.
Arsenal predicted line-up vs BATE Borisov – Europa League
(3-4-2-1): Cech; Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Maitland-Niles, Torreira, Guendouzi, Kolasinac; Mkhitaryan, Suarez; Aubameyang