Predicted Arsenal XI vs FC Zurich: Heavy rotation for Europa League opener

A late-season stutter means Arsenal will be competing in the Europa League as opposed to the Champions League in 2022/23 and their campaign gets underway on Thursday evening against FC Zurich.

The Gunners will be expected to breeze past a side that is yet to taste victory in the Swiss Super League this season with Mikel Arteta poised to rotate his starting XI heavily.

With several players nursing injuries, Arsenal’s depth is already being stretched – especially in one or two positions. Nevertheless, Thursday’s contest is a brilliant opportunity for some fringe players to impress the boss.

Predicted Arsenal XI vs FC Zurich

Here’s our predicted Arsenal XI for their trip to FC Zurich in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Matt Turner (GK) – Aaron Ramsdale may well get the nod, but it’d be nice to see Turner make his first competitive start on Thursday. The American endured a mixed pre-season, but these are the sorts of games you expect him to earn minutes in.

Takehiro Tomiyasu (RB) – Ben White has barely put a foot wrong at right-back to start the season and Tomiyasu has been kept out of the side as a result. However, with Cedric likely to miss out, the former Bologna defender should get the nod here.

Ben White (CB) – We’re yet to see White start in a centre-back position this season but with Arteta’s options limited, he could slide into a central position on Thursday.

Rob Holding (CB) – I don’t expect William Saliba or Gabriel to start in Switzerland, so Holding should start and potentially partner White.

Kieran Tierney (LB) – Zinchenko wasn’t fit enough to play 90 minutes at the weekend so it’d be a bit silly to start him on Thursday given his importance to the side. This is a good opportunity for Tierney to impress.

Midfielders

Sambi Lokonga (CM) – Arsenal’s failure to bring in another midfielder before the transfer deadline means Lokonga is a shoo-in to start on Thursday in the absence of Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny.

Granit Xhaka (CM) – Only Saliba and Gabriel (both 540) have racked up more minutes than Xhaka (538) this season, but I think Arteta will instead rest Martin Odegaard ahead of Everton on Sunday. The Swiss midfielder will captain the side against FC Zurich.

Fabio Vieira (CM) – Here he is. The signings of Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus combined with Fabio Vieira’s pre-season injury thrust the Portuguese playmaker out of the limelight, but he could have a big impact in north London during his debut season. Vieira made his first appearance for the club on Sunday, and he’s expected to make his maiden start in the Gunners’ Europa League opener.

Forwards

Marquinhos (RW) – The departure of Nicolas Pepe means Bukayo Saka will be relied upon in the Premier League just as much as he was last season. Thus, there’s no chance he starts on Thursday with summer arrival Marquinhos best placed to deputise for the England international in Reiss Nelson’s absence.

Eddie Nketiah (ST) – Nketiah has impressed off the bench this season and he’ll surely be given a chance to start on Thursday. I wouldn’t be surprised if Eddie ends the campaign as one of the Europa League’s leading scorers.

Gabriel Martinelli (LW) – This would’ve been a perfect opportunity for Emile Smith Rowe to earn his first start of the season, but he hasn’t trained this week after picking up an injury while warming down at Old Trafford. Thus, Martinelli will likely have to start on Thursday.