Arsenal possible line-up vs. Atalanta in the Champions League: Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus are set to start as Declan Rice returns to the starting XI…

Arsenal is set to face Atalanta in the Champions League, with a possible starting XI that includes Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Jesus, as Declan Rice is expected to make his comeback to the first team.

Mikel Arteta is unlikely to have had much time to enjoy Arsenal’s recent 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby.

The team is preparing to travel to Bergamo, Italy, for a Champions League match against Atalanta on Thursday, followed by a challenging encounter at the Etihad Stadium just three days later.

With two significant away fixtures ahead, the Gunners, who have already secured a win against Unai Emery’s formidable Aston Villa this season, will need to manage their squad carefully.

Given the demanding schedule and the importance of the upcoming match against Manchester City, Arteta is expected to implement some changes for the game against Atalanta.

While it would be ideal for Arsenal to field their strongest lineup, several players on the bench are more than capable of stepping up.

Arteta is anticipated to make three alterations to the team that triumphed over Spurs, with Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling likely to start in Italy. Declan Rice is also set to return and will be included in the starting eleven.

Although there is a compelling case for Ethan Nwaneri to feature against Atalanta, it appears that Kai Havertz will likely assume the number 10 position instead.

In other news, Thomas Partey, Gabriel Martinelli, and Leandro Trossard will be given a break in preparation for the match against City, as these three players are at risk of losing their starting positions.

While Arsenal’s manager would appreciate the opportunity to utilize players like Riccardo Calafiori, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Mikel Merino for such an important fixture, Arteta’s enhanced squad depth is already becoming evident.

Jorginho has issued a warning to Arsenal regarding Atalanta. Alan Shearer expressed his astonishment at Jorginho’s performance against Spurs over the weekend, highlighting the midfielder’s ability to maintain his competitive edge despite limited playing time.

The seasoned Italian is likely to start in his homeland, particularly given his effectiveness in the recent derby.

In reality, Partey’s position may be uncertain at this point—he is not performing at the same level as he did one or two years ago.

Arsenal considered selling Partey during the summer transfer window, and while he remains a key player after staying with the club, it is clear that this is an area where the Gunners could seek improvement.

Moreover, there might be a consideration to deploy Rice in the defensive midfield role against Atalanta, a position he could revert to once Merino is back to full fitness.