Arsenal Rotation Frames Low-Stakes European Night
There is a peculiar calm surrounding Arsenal’s final Champions League league-phase fixture. With qualification already secured and seven straight wins guaranteeing a top-two finish, tonight’s meeting with Kairat at the Emirates feels more like an audition than a contest. For Mikel Arteta, this is a moment to glance down the squad list rather than the league table.
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The priorities lie elsewhere. Saturday’s trip to Leeds looms larger, and this fixture offers space to manage workloads, reward patience and test depth without consequence.
Suspensions and Niggles Shape Selection
Rotation is not merely optional, it is necessary. Declan Rice and Mikel Merino are suspended after picking up bookings in the win over Inter Milan, removing two pillars of Arsenal’s midfield. William Saliba and Jurrien Timber add to the absentees after missing training on Tuesday, with Arteta confirming the pair will sit out with “some niggles”.
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Those enforced changes create opportunities. Kepa Arrizabalaga is set to continue his role as cup goalkeeper, while Ben White and Myles Lewis-Skelly are expected to step into the defensive line. Riccardo Calafiori’s return to training places him in contention for minutes, and there may even be space for Marli Salmon, the 16-year-old defender, to gain valuable exposure.
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Midfield Experiments and Forward Questions
In midfield, Christian Norgaard is likely to feature given the suspensions, with Eberechi Eze also expected to get time. This is a chance to examine combinations that rarely surface in league play, a rehearsal rather than a performance.
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Further forward, Arteta faces a more nuanced decision. Whether to hand Kai Havertz a first start in almost a year remains open. A cameo off the bench feels more plausible, which could leave Viktor Gyokeres to lead the line from the outset. It would be a functional choice, not a statement.
Predicted Arsenal Lineup Takes Shape
For the fringe players, this is less about opposition and more about impression. The stage may be quiet, but the scrutiny is not.
Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3):Kepa; White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Norgaard, Odegaard, Eze; Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli
Injured: Dowman, Saliba, TimberSuspended: Rice, Merino
Kick-off is at 8pm GMT on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at the Emirates Stadium, live on TNT Sports.
