Arsenal XI vs. Kairat: Sweeping Changes for Dead Rubber—Injury News, Predicted Lineup

The Gunners have already secured safe passage to the last 16 of the Champions League.

Arsenal have been perfect in Europe. | Jari Pestelacci/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

Arsenal can make it eight wins from eight in the Champions League when they welcome bottom-placed Kairat Almaty to the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.

The Gunners have secured maximum points in the league phase and their place in the last 16 of the competition as a result. Avoiding defeat midweek would see them clinch top spot as they seek to finish with a flourish.

With crucial fixtures on the horizon for Arsenal, Mikel Arteta will take the opportunity to make wholesale changes for the dead rubber with the Kazakhstani side.

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Match Snapshot

• 🕒 Kick-off time: 8 p.m. GMT, 3 p.m. ET, 12 p.m. PT
• 📍 Location: Emirates Stadium
• 🏆 Competition: Champions League
• 📊 Recent form: WWWWW

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Team News

Eberechi Eze could be back in the team. | Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Getty Images

• ⚠️ Key injuries, doubts: Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz, Max Dowman
• 🔢 Predicted formation: 4-2-3-1

Piero Hincapié made his comeback from injury in the defeat to Manchester United at the weekend but there was no place in the squad for Riccardo Calafiori and Kai Havertz. The pair could feature against Kairat but their minutes are likely to be managed.

Arsenal youngster Max Dowman is the only confirmed absentee, while the likes of Cristhian Mosquera, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Christian Nørgaard and Eberechi Eze should come into the team.

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Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs. Kairat

Arsenal will field an alternate XI. | FotMob

GK: Kepa Arrizabalaga—Kepa should step in for compatriot David Raya, who is seldom afforded a rest, and is unlikely to be overly worked by Kairat’s limited forward line.

RB: Ben White—The return of Hincapié to left back means White will have to once again accept his place as Jurriën Timber’s deputy, but he’ll start against Kairat as the defence is rotated.

CB: Cristhian Mosquera—Mosquera made his comeback from injury against Inter in Arsenal’s 3–1 victory at San Siro, but there was some understandable rust for the summer recruit after over a month in the treatment room.

CB: Piero Hincapié—Hincapié was taken off before the hour mark against United, perhaps with one eye on the upcoming clash with Kairat. Arteta will want to take the chance to rest both William Saliba and Gabriel.

LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly—The imminent return of Calafiori will further impact Lewis-Skelly’s minutes, but the Englishman is the perfect left back option for games like these.

DM: Christian Nørgaard—Martin Ødegaard, Declan Rice and Martín Zubimendi are expected to be rested for a clash with nothing on the line and that opens the door for Nørgaard to make only his seventh Arsenal start.

DM: Mikel Merino—Utilised in midfield once again rather than up front, Merino is a stellar rotation option in the engine room. He will take on Rice’s box-to-box role against Kairat.

RW: Noni Madueke—All three of Madueke’s Arsenal strikes have come in the Champions League, including an impressive brace against Club Brugge back in early December. He will be aiming to stat-pad against the worst side in the competition.

AM: Eberechi Eze—Eze has been used surprisingly infrequently for Arsenal this season despite a bright start in north London. He will want to prove a point to Arteta with a strong showing this Wednesday.

LW: Gabriel Martinelli—Over half of Martinelli’s nine goals this season have come in Europe and the Brazilian will be keen to make his mark and potentially sneak into Arsenal’s Premier League XI.

ST: Viktor Gyökeres—There remain question marks over Arsenal’s No.9 spot over the coming weeks and months now that Gabriel Jesus has returned and Kai Havertz is nearly back. The former started against United, meaning Gyökeres could come into the team against Kairat.

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