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Arsenal team news: Expected XI vs Brentford as Mikel Arteta forced to make key change
Arsenal host Brentford at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has no choice but to make a high-profile change ahead of Brentford rocking up at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. The Gunners will hope to temporarily top the Premier League table ahead of Liverpool's clash with Manchester City on Sunday. Here, Express Sport takes you through how Arteta's side are likely to line up...
Goalkeeper: Ramsdale
Aaron Ramsdale has well and truly been replaced as Arsenal's number one by David Raya. But the Spaniard, who is on loan from Brentford, is forced to make way due to being unable to play against his parent club.
Ramsdale has not made a single Premier League appearance since the Gunners last faced Brentford back in November, when they scraped a narrow 1-0 victory despite a number of shaky moments from the out-of-favour England stopper.
Defence: White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior
The back-four of Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Jakub Kiwior have started each of Arsenal's last five games. While the Gunners were beaten 1-0 in Porto on that run, they also notched huge wins over Sheffield United, Newcastle, Burnley and West Ham - all by at least a three-goal margin.
The quartet were hardly tested in a 6-0 win at Bramall Lane on Monday, during which the Blades had only 19 per cent of the ball, four shots on goal and no shots on target.
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Midfield: Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice
The important issue of a Champions League last-16 second leg meeting with Porto on Tuesday, during which Arsenal need to claw back a one-goal deficit, could play into Arteta's team selection against Brentford.
But then again, the prospect of resting any one of Martin Odegaard, Jorginho or Declan Rice in the thick of a Premier League title race will surely be too big a gamble to take. We expect the trio that started against Sheffield United to keep their place.
Arsenal boss Arteta confirms he will be watching Liverpool v Man City
Attack: Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Electric wingers Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli were both forced off through injury on Monday. But Arteta put supporters' minds at ease during his midweek press conference by confirming that they were only 'little issues'.
Kai Havertz has emerged as a huge asset through the middle in recent weeks, notching five goal contributions in his last four appearances. The German is therefore likely to continue up top leaving Leandro Trossard, Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus on the bench.