Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has sprung a major surprise with his team selection for the Gunners' high-stakes Champions League encounter with Bayern Munich on Wednesday night, naming a back four that has never played together before.
An Unprecedented Defensive Line
The most dramatic changes come in defence, where William Saliba and Cristhian Mosquera will form a brand-new centre-back partnership. This will be the first time the two have played together. At right-back, Jurrien Timber retains his usual spot, but the left-back position sees a significant change with Myles Lewis-Skelly coming into the starting eleven, pushing the regular starter Riccardo Calafiori to the bench.
This reshuffle is partly forced and partly tactical. Gabriel is absent due to injury, creating a vacancy next to Saliba. Arteta had selected Piero Hincapie for that role in the weekend's Premier League match against Tottenham. However, for this European fixture, the manager has decided to rotate.
Arteta's Reasoning Behind the Changes
Speaking to TNT Sports before the match, Arteta explained his thought process. He emphasised the need to manage his squad effectively amidst a congested fixture list and the physical toll of international travel.
‘The players have given me every trust because every time they have an opportunity they have performed and we have to manage the squad,’ Arteta stated. He specifically highlighted the situation with Hincapie: ‘For example Piero came from Ecuador, he played two games, massive travel, played for the first time in the Premier League as a starter [against Tottenham], you see how he finished the game.’
Arteta further justified his decisions, adding, ‘First of all they deserve to play and then because we have to manage certain individuals in the squad, with the load that they had. We have a game every three days and everybody has to be at it and alive and they deserve to play.’
Lewis-Skelly's Chance to Shine
The selection of Myles Lewis-Skelly is particularly noteworthy. The England international is yet to start a Premier League game this season, having made all eight of his top-flight appearances from the substitutes' bench. However, this marks his third start in the Champions League, having previously featured in victories over Olympiacos and Atletico Madrid. He has also started in Carabao Cup wins against Port Vale and Brighton.
The rest of the Arsenal lineup is more familiar. The midfield trio consists of Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, and Ebere Eze. In attack, Arteta has chosen Leandro Trossard, Bukayo Saka, and Mikel Merino, with the Spaniard continuing to fill in for injured strikers. Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus all remain sidelined, though attacking options on the bench include Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke, and Ethan Nwaneri.
For Bayern Munich, the familiar threat of former Tottenham striker Harry Kane leads the line, supported by Michael Olise and Serge Gnabry on the flanks, with 17-year-old Lennart Karl in behind.
