- Arsenal make ‘contact’ to sign Bruno Guimaraes this summer
- Arsenal in ‘strong position’ to sign Bologna star Zirkzee
- Arsenal ‘very interested’ in signing Xavi Simons this summer
- Arsenal interested in signing Benjamin Sesko this summer
- Arsenal urged to rival Tottenham to sign Conor Gallagher
- Arsenal ‘pushing’ to sign Ajax star Jorrel Hato this summer
- Arsenal register interest in signing Ajax star Diant Ramaj
- Ex-Gunner says Arsenal could sign Jason Steele this summer
- Arsenal backed to sign Alexander Isak this summer
- Arsenal could sign Napoli ace Victor Osimhen this summer
Confirmed line-ups: Benfica vs Arsenal: Odegaard & Aubameyang start
Arsenal are in Rome to take on Benfica in the first leg of our Europa League tie this evening.
Mikel Arteta has named an unchanged line-up from the side that beat Leeds United 4-2 last weekend so Martin Odegaard keeps his place in attack to make his second start for Arsenal. The Norwegian lines-up along with Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe meaning the likes of Nicolas Pepe, Willian and Gabriel Martinelli are on the bench.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is fit to keep his place up front despite picking up a knock at the weekend so Alexandre Lacazette has to settle for a place among the substitutes. Dani Ceballos keeps his place alongside Granit Xhaka in the middle of the park with Thomas Partey still out.
Gabriel keeps his place alongside David Luiz in Arsenal’s defence so Rob Holding misses out once again while Cedric Soares starts at left-back tonight with Kieran Tierney only fit enough for the bench. Hector Bellerin starts once again at right-back while Arteta has gone with Bernd Leno in goal.
These are the line-ups for the game:
Benfica
Helton; Veríssimo, Otamendi, Vertonghen; Diogo Gonçalves, Weigl, Taarabt, Grimaldo; Pizzi, Darwin, Waldschmidt.
Subs: Svilar, Odysseas, Gilberto, João Ferreira, Nuno Tavares, Gabriel, Chiquinho, Everton, Cervi, Pedrinho, Rafa and Seferovic.
Arsenal
Leno, Cedric, Gabriel, Luiz, Bellerin, Xhaka, Ceballos, Saka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe, Aubameyang
Subs: Ryan, Hein, Chambers, Holding, Mari, Tierney, Elneny, Willian, Pepe, Martinelli, Lacazette, Nketiah