Photo credit: Getty Images/ Justin Setterfield

By Paul Stevens

Arsenal travel away in the Champions League for the third time in four group games. The Gunners’ hosts Slavia Prague currently sit in first place in the Czech League. Arsenal’s opponents are currently unbeaten domestically and have recorded nine wins, four draws with zero losses.

Slavia have not been able to replicate their domestic form in the Champions League and Mikel Arteta will be keen to exploit the hosts’ defensive frailty. The Czech side looked to be on track to claim a win in the opening match week fixture against Lens. However, the French side found not only a 91st-minute equaliser, but also added a 93rd-minute winner.

Slavia then travelled away to Baku to face Champion’s League newcomers Sabah. The debutants claimed their first-ever win when the fixture ended 2-0 to leave Slavia on zero points after two games played.

In match week three, Slavia finally got off the mark thanks to a 90th-minute equaliser from Pavel Kacor in Slavia’s away fixture at Fenerbahce. The Czech side earned their first point of the campaign in the process.

This fixture is another opportunity for Mikel Arteta to heavily rotate his team; that said, some of the players who let the side down in the Fleetwood fixture must put in significantly better performances if they wish to earn the right to play for Arsenal going forward. This match gives those players a huge chance to make amends.

This is a match that Arsenal go into as big favourites but the performance of those selected must improve and likely will, if the visitors to Prague wish to earn another three points and take a big step toward a top eight placement in the UCL Table.

Player Focus

My player focus for the Slavia game is Martin Zubimendi. The Spanish World Cup winner is now in his second season at Arsenal. He played an integral role last season and was a key reason the Gunners won the title in my view.

Midway through the first half of last season, it was Zubimendi, not Declan Rice, who was receiving praise for producing countless world-class performances in the heart of Arsenal’s midfield.

In the later stages of the season, it was clear that the intensity of the Premier League title race had burnt the midfielder out and he simply could not replicate his earlier performance levels.

Since Zubimendi’s decline, Mikel Arteta has turned to Myles Lewis-Skelly, who had flourished in the position. Now, in a new season, I feel it is time for Martin Zubimendi to remind fans and his manager of his superstar talent.

Zubimendi is a Spanish international, a Premier League Champion and a World Cup winner. He is far too good for a bench role and should be firmly pushing to start Premier League matches ahead of both Bruno Guimaraes and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Hopefully, the player can put some unfortunate injuries and minor issues behind him and use the next few games to reignite his Arsenal career and force his way back into Mikel Arteta’s first eleven.

Treatment Table

Bukayo Saka remains unavailable with his serious thigh injury and is not expected back until around December.

William Saliba continues his recovery from his long-term back injury and will be unavailable.

There are doubts about the fitness of Eberechi Eze who Arteta said had picked up an issue before the Liverpool game. The Arsenal boss said, ‘We had an issue with Ebs (Eze) as well, that it was incredible that he was in the squad today.’

For Arsenal’s hosts, Slavia have several issues.

Right back Elias Pitak will likely miss the game with an ankle ligament issue.

Slavia have a double issue at centre back with both Stepan Chaloupek and Igoh Ogbu having injury issues. Both are due back in early November, but it is unclear if the Arsenal fixture will come too soon.

Slavia also have a double issue on the right wing. Both Ivan Schranz and Bryan Ouanda are reportedly in doubt for the game as well.

Predicted Line-Up

My predicted line-up aims to start strong and then rest as many key players for as long as possible.

Declan Rice is one player I would keep on the bench and only bring him on if the game state requires it. The midfielder has a chance to be rested in the next two matches, which could be key to keeping him fresh going into a tough set of fixtures after the international break. With that in mind, my line-up is as follows:

David Raya starts in goal.

Piero Hincapie at left back.

Gabriel Magalhaes to start but ideally sub him off as soon as the game is safe.

Ezri Konsa also starts at centre back.

Ben White to start at right back to rest Jurien Timber, who played the full match against Liverpool.

My midfield three would be Martin Zubimendi in the number six role, Myles Lewis-Skelly at left eight and Martin Odegaard at right Eight. If Eberechi Eze is fit enough to play a rotation role I would bring him on for Odegaard as soon as Arsenal secure the points.

Max Dowman will play on the right wing.

I would start Christos Tzolis on the left wing but like Gabriel and Odegaard, look to rest him as soon as possible with Ceadach O’Neill to fill a role off the bench.

Finally, I would start Viktor Gyokeres up front in the hope of kick-starting the forward’s season in front of goal.