Arsenal head to Field Mill on March 7 for an FA Cup fifth round clash with League One Mansfield Town and Mikel Arteta is set to shuffle his pack .
With a seven point Premier League lead, a Champions League last 16 tie, and a Carabao Cup final on the horizon, the Gunners boss can afford to rotate . And he will.
THE RECENT FORM
Since that wobble against Wolves, Arsenal have been relentless. A 4-1 thumping of Spurs, a vital win over Chelsea, and most recently a gritty 1-0 at Brighton . The title charge is building momentum.
That Brighton win saw Arteta field his strongest XI Raya in goal; Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Hincapie at the back; Zubimendi and Rice in midfield; Martinelli, Saka, Eze supporting Gyokeres up top .
Saturday will be different.
TEAM NEWS
Arteta gave an update before the Brighton game that’s worth revisiting.
On Kai Havertz: “He’s done a part of the session, we will have to wait and see whether he’s available and in which condition.”
On Ben White: “Not available.”
On Martin Odegaard: “We will see. We have to wait and see how comfortable he is to do certain actions.”
With a few extra days, there’s a chance Odegaard, White and Havertz could be involved at some point . Mikel Merino remains the only long term absentee .
THE PREDICTED LINEUP
Our man at the match reckons Arteta will go with experience and youth mixed:
GK: Kepa, cup duty for the Spaniard
LB: Calafiori, needs minutes
CB: Mosquera, building chemistry
CB: Salmon, young gun gets a chance
RB: Timber, steady presence
CM: Norgaard, protection
CM: Eze, pushed deeper
CM: Havertz, if fit, gets minutes
LW: Martinelli, needs sharpness
ST: Jesus, desperate for goals
RW: Madueke, explosive option
THE OPPOSITION
Mansfield are struggling in League One, fighting to stay out of the relegation muck. Field Mill will be bouncing, it’s not every day the Gunners come to town but quality should tell.
THE STAKES
FA Cup fifth round. One game from Wembley. Arsenal have bigger fish to fry the league, the Champions League, that Carabao Cup final but trophies are trophies.
Arteta won’t throw it. He’ll just trust his squad to get the job done.
And with the depth Arsenal have built, they should.
