While the international break was very lengthy, once club returns, it comes at you very fast and furious. Arsenal beat Leeds United in the league, yesterday 2-1, but we already need to start previewing the next clash, as it kicks off in less than 48 hours time. The Gunners will welcome in Lille (or LOSC if you prefer to call them that) for a Champions League clash. Expect Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to make wholesale changes to his lineup, starting right up top, with Viktor Gyokeres coming in for Kai Havertz.
UEFA Champions League
Kickoff: Tues. Oct 13, 8pm
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London, UK
UCL Standing, Form: Arsenal 15th, 3 pts, W Lille 22nd, 0 pts, L
Arsenal Preview Material: Team News Predicted Starting XI
Google’s Result Probability: Arsenal win 78% Draw 14% Lille win 8%
Staying in the final third, Eberechi Eze should come into the first team while Noni Madueke will sit here. Meanwhile in the middle of the park, Declan Rice and Myles Lewis-Skelly should rest in midweek, making way for Martin Zubimendi and the summer signing from Newcastle United, Bruno Guimaraes.
Everything else looks pretty straight-forward.
Arsenal Predicted Starting XI vs Lille
David Raya; Jurrien Timber, Ezri Konsa, Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori; Bruno Guimaraes, Martin Zubimendi; Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Eberechi Eze; Viktor Gyokeres
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network, Ratings and RG. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and the Washington Post.