Predicted Arsenal line-up vs PSV, Leandro Trossard starts

Arsenal start their Champions League group stage campaign against PSV at the Emirates Stadium tonight.

The Gunners are back in the elite European club competition after six seasons. They have earned the spot on the back of an impressive 2022/23 Premier League season where they finished second.

The club have been drawn alongside PSV, Sevilla and RC Lens in their group. They are favourites on paper to progress to the round of 16, but still need to get the job done with victories.

There will be at least one enforced change against PSV tonight. Gabriel Martinelli has been ruled out with a hamstring injury picked up during the opening half against Everton on Sunday.

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Predicted Line-up:

David Raya was a shock selection ahead of Aaron Ramsdale in goal for the weekend’s game at Goodison Park. The Spaniard showed his class with a composed performance on debut.

He completed 92 per cent of his passes with seven long balls. Despite this, Ramsdale could get the nod, having played a big part in the club’s qualification for the competition last year.

The defence kept a well-deserved clean sheet against the Toffees who were toothless in attack. Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko are expected to continue in the full-back positions.

William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes have formed a terrific central defensive partnership over the last 14 months and there is no reason for manager Mikel Arteta to ponder a change.

Declan Rice is likely to continue from a more defensive role in midfield with Thomas Partey on the sidelines. Fabio Vieira was brilliant in the number eight position against Everton and was denied a wonderful assist for Gabriel Martinelli due to a marginal offside decision.

The Portuguese has done enough to reclaim his spot ahead of Kai Havertz, who has looked short in form and confidence since his summer move from Chelsea. Club-captain Martin Odegaard is guaranteed to start from his preferred number 10 position.

Bukayo Saka will likewise continue from the right-wing role but there could be changes elsewhere in attack. Martinelli’s injury is expected to pave the way for Trossard to start on the left wing. The Belgian scored a brilliant winner at Everton on Sunday.

Gabriel Jesus looks a strong candidate to start in the number nine role ahead of Eddie Nketiah. Jesus scored a late stoppage time goal before the international break but was still on the bench with Nketiah preferred to start. This may change tonight.

How Arsenal could line up vs PSV

Stats from Transfermarkt.com