Unlike Manchester United, whose season relies solely on Thursday night’s Europa League last-16 second leg at Old Trafford, Arsenal can rest easy. They are 7-1 up in the Champions League and do not have the delicate balance to strike between priorities.
Arsenal’s own campaign is now focused on how far in Europe they go but having put both feet in the quarter-finals thanks to their stellar display against PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday, Mikel Arteta can move forward with confidence. He now has the freedom of Sunday afternoon to experiment and get things in order.
United, on the other hand, are looking to keep their players fresh for the visit of Real Sociedad instead. That could see rotation and a potentially weaker side named.
Arsenal have no such concerns. They can actually plan to peak next weekend for the visit of Chelsea, knowing that is the toughest fixture and the one with the most riding on it.
That does not mean that Arteta will be ringing the changes on Sunday. Injuries have meant that he does not really have the chance to do that. He can try a few new things in order to attack the rest of the season.
In terms of what will be done at Old Trafford, it is likely to be more of the same. There are a few areas in which he could shake things up a bit, though. David Raya will start in goal with Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba sat in front of him, which is no different to normal.
Ben White could be afforded a first start since November having come back from injury in the last few weeks. He is yet to get the nod from the get-go but there will be fewer better occasions. If not here then surely for the second PSV meeting.
Jurrien Timber can therefore either keep his place at right-back, drop to the bench for a rest, or slot in at left-back. Riccardo Calafiori will argue that he deserves a shot there having been so impressive as a substitute in the Netherlands. This would pose as a move away from Arteta’s preferred team of late, taking out Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Calafiori has also ventured into the centre-forward role and looked good doing it. However, it would be a surprise to see him do it from the start, even against United.
Lewis-Skelly, meanwhile, was taken off as a precaution after getting away without receiving a second yellow card for a reckless first-half challenge. Arteta is not likely to punish him but Calafiori’s involvement could warrant a slight change in system.
Lewis-Skelly is well suited to playing in midfield and could start there on Sunday in place of Thomas Partey or even Declan Rice just to keep things fresh. Against United’s physically lacking central duo, even an inexperienced Lewis-Skelly would be fine.
Rice is the left-sided driver from midfield which would be the best area for Lewis-Skelly to play in. The former West Ham man was excellent in midweek and has everything to control the game on Sunday but keeping him on the sidelines is an option just in the name of trying new tactical ploys.
Having started 34 of the 40 matches this season for his club, Rice is due a rest and United is the perfect chance for this to happen. He will be central to Thomas Tuchel’s England plans over the international break and although there is a better chance to let him have a day off against PSV to come, Lewis-Skelly is more than good enough to deputise in the short term in the name of trialling something new.
Rice will be crucial for any hopes Arsenal have of going deep in Europe and so any additional chance to keep him fresh must be considered. Rice played over 4,200 minutes last season as well as every single one at Euro 2024 over the summer. The opportunity to look after him has arisen and can now be taken.
Martin Odegaard was back to his very best on Tuesday and will be keen to assert himself in the Premier League. There aren’t the options to switch things up ahead of him either.
Ethan Nwaneri is continuing to be the perfect replacement for Bukayo Saka on the right wing and no alternatives leaves Mikel Merino to play up front. Leandro Trossard has no reason to lose his spot on the left.
In all it is only a slightly tweaked Arsenal XI chosen by football.london, but the subtle alterations do allow Arteta to try things out when the pressure is effectively off. It would take a remarkable drop off from Liverpool to allow the title race to have any intrigue from here on and really, Arsenal can already set their sights on the Champions League quarter-finals in early April.
