Arsenal XI vs Club Brugge: Gyokeres to start in much-changed team, Rice misses out Arteta to make 6 changes…

Arsenal XI vs Club Brugge: Gyokeres set to start in a significantly altered team, Rice unavailable. Arteta to implement 6 changes.

Predicted Arsenal lineup against Club Brugge: Gyokeres to start in a significantly altered team, Rice unavailable.

Viktor Gyokeres is set to make his return to the Arsenal starting lineup as they face Club Brugge in a UEFA Champions League match at the Jan Breydel Stadium on Wednesday.

Arsenal is keen to get back to winning ways and extend their lead at the top of the UEFA Champions League table when they clash with Club Brugge at the Jan Breydel Stadium on Wednesday night. Mikel Arteta faces new roster challenges ahead of this latest match.

Declan Rice will miss the trip to Bruges due to illness, while Leandro Trossard is nursing a knock. Arteta is also concerned about Riccardo Calafiori’s fitness, with this trio joining Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Cristhian Mosquera, and Kai Havertz in the treatment room.

On a positive note, Gabriel Jesus is included in the UEFA Champions League squad after taking the place of Max Dowman, who suffered an ankle injury during a match with the North London club’s under-21 team. Additionally, during his pre-match press conference, Arteta shared fitness updates regarding Saliba, Rice, Trossard, and Dowman.

The Arsenal manager stated, “No, Declan was ill. He felt quite sick after the game, and he hasn’t traveled with us. William is still unavailable, and Leo has picked up another knock in an area where he previously had an issue. I don’t expect it to be a long absence, but unfortunately, he cannot be here.”

“Yes, unfortunately, Max [Dowman] sustained an injury last weekend and had to leave the game.

He underwent scans and will be out for several weeks. Then we have the situation with Gabi [Jesus], who we anticipated would be training with us by the end of December.

Gabi has been pushing himself every single day, insisting ‘I will be back sooner, sooner, sooner,’ and he has managed to do it.

“Thanks to his efforts and the dedication of the medical team over these past months, we were able to make a swap, and we have successfully done so. On one hand, you observe Max and his situation, while on the other, you witness the happiness and excitement of Gabi returning to the Champions League.”

Arteta also voiced his concerns regarding the numerous injuries affecting his squad. The Arsenal manager stated, “It’s a significant loss. Losing Max again is certainly not ideal, especially with Leo just returning, and we need to be cautious with managing their minutes.”

“Willy is still unavailable. We’re missing Big Gabi, and there are other players who can only contribute for limited minutes, like Riccy [Calafiori] the other day. However, this is a situation we have been handling since the start of the season. Now that we are in December, it has been nearly five months, and we have managed it remarkably well, and we will keep going.”

David Raya is the clear first choice in goal, with Arsenal set to adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation against Club Brugge on Wednesday. The defense will include Ben White, Jurrien Timber, Piero Hincapie, and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

In the midfield, Mikel Merino is expected to partner with Christian Norgaard in the double pivot, while Martin Zubimendi will take a breather. Ethan Nwaneri will take on the no. 10 position, with Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli positioned as the two wide forwards.

Viktor Gyokeres will spearhead the attack for the away match against Club Brugge. Consequently, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, and Martin Odegaard will serve as backup options on the bench.

Predicted Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Timber, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Norgaard, Merino; Madueke, Nwaneri, Martinelli; Gyokeres