Arsenal look set to make several changes for their Europa League clash with Portuguese side Vitoria SC on Thursday.
There has been growing dissatisfaction with Gunners fans in recent weeks for their performances in the Premier League.
Unai Emery’s side were beaten 1-0 by Sheffield United on Monday and need a good result in the European competition to boost morale.
Arsenal have so far not struggled in the Europa League with a 3-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt and 4-0 victory against Standard Liege.
Vitoria should not provide too much of a challenge for the Gunners at home especially with young fresh legs in the team.
Gabriel Martinelli has mainly been used in cup competitions this season and taken his chances when they have come.
He netted twice, with one assist, against Standard Liege and also scored a brace in the Carabao Cup against Nottingham Forest.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will likely get a rest ahead of the Premier League match on Sunday with Crystal Palace.
LATEST FOOTBALL NEWS
Bukayo Saka has impressed and the teenage forward is likely to get more first team experience against Vitoria.
Nicolas Pepe has struggled following his £72million move from Ligue 1 but a game like this will be ideal to give him a confidence boost.
Mesut Özil has been omitted by Emery from match day squads in recent weeks because other players were ‘more deserving’ to be ahead of him but he is unlikely to feature.
The manager has tended to prefer younger players and Joe Willock has played in the last two Europa League matches.
LIVE on talkSPORT
Check out all the live commentaries coming up across the talkSPORT network this week
- Partizan Belgrade vs Manchester United (Thursday, 5:55pm) – talkSPORT 2
- Manchester City vs Aston Villa (Saturday, 12:30pm) – talkSPORT
- Sheffield Wednesday vs Leeds (Saturday, 12:30pm) – talkSPORT 2
- West Ham vs Sheffield United (Saturday, 3pm) – talkSPORT 2
- Burnley vs Chelsea (Saturday, 5:30pm) – talkSPORT
Lucas Torreira was a first team regular last season but has found it difficult to get Premier League minutes and is likely to get some game time on Thursday.
More fringe players are set to feature with Kieran Tierney, Rob Holding, Shkodran Mustafi and Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Emiliano Martinez is the cup competition goalkeeper and will replace Bernd Leno in the starting XI.
How Arsenal could look
