Arsenal XI vs Shakhtar Donetsk: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup, injury latest for Champions League

Evening Standard

·21 October 2024

Arsenal XI vs Shakhtar Donetsk: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup, injury latest for Champions League

Mikel Arteta’s injury woes have not improved ahead of a tough test

Arsenal will be without Martin Odegaard for their Champions League clash against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday.

OneFootball Videos

The Gunners captain is still out with a knee injury that he picked up in September when playing for Norway. Mikel Arteta’s side are also likely to be without Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber, as both missed training on Monday afternoon.

Saka has been struggling with a hamstring injury that he picked up playing for England during the recent international break. The winger was forced during England’s defeat to Greece on October 10 and missed the Three Lions’ win over Finland three days later.

Timber has been out since the start of this month with what Arteta has confirmed is a muscular problem. The defender missed Arsenal’s win over Southampton on October 5 and he has not played for them since.

Arsenal slumped to their first defeat of the season last weekend after they were beaten 2-0 by Bournemouth.

Arteta may look to change his team after that loss, although the back-four is likely to stay the same - unless Timber is thrown straight back into the team after being out with a muscular problem.

In midfielder, Jorginho could come into the side in place of Thomas Partey and Kai Havertz may slot into there, too. Arteta played a midfield three of Declan Rice, Mikel Merino and Partey at Bournemouth on Saturday, but it struggled to gel.

Havertz could drop into there to add creativity. Ethan Nwaneri is an option, but Arteta suggested on Monday he is unlikely to start.

Arsenal likely XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Havertz, Jorginho, Rice; Sterling, Jesus, Martinelli

Doubts: Saka (hamstring), Timber

Injured: Odegaard (ankle), Tierney (hamstring), Tomiyasu (knee)

Arsenal squad from: Neto, Raya, Setford; Calafiori, Gabriel, Heaven, Kiwior, Saliba, Timber, White, Zinchenko; Havertz, Jorginho, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Nwaneri, Partey, Rice; Jesus, Martinelli, Saka, Sterling and Trossard.

Time and date: 8pm BST on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 Venue: Emirates Stadium

Referee: Benoit Bastien

TV channel and live stream: Amazon Prime