5 players Mikel Arteta should rotate into his starting lineup vs Slavia Prague

As Arsenal seek to finish in the top two of the gigantic Champions League table, can they pick up three important points on the road? On 4 November 2025, Mikel Arteta's team swatted aside Slavia Prague 3-0 at Fortuna Arena.

Returning to the same venue to the face the same opposition on exactly the same date, the 1,044 Gooners making the trip to the Czech capital will be hoping for the same scoreline.

Well, Jindřich Trpišovský's team are currently without a win in 18 European matches, their most-recent Champions League victory coming against Steaua București in 2007. Thus, Arteta can afford to heavily rotate in Prague, so here are five players he simply must start.

Max Dowman

Max Dowman is currently in the midst of a three-match domestic ban, following his controversial red card against Fleetwood in the EFL Cup. The fact that his suspension was upheld, not even reduced, is farcical, considering what Dowman did, as well as the challenge that provoked his reaction.

Nevertheless, in the absence of Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke is now a key figure. Thus, he should be rested, with Dowman getting the nod on the right-wing.

Cristhian Mosquera

While Ezri Konsa has been earning rave reviews, Cristhian Mosquera is perhaps unfortunate not to be the man seeing plenty of minutes. He picked up a hamstring injury at Villa Park, his only appearance since then coming in the Carabao Cup.

With William Saliba back in full training, the Spaniard may fall even further down the pecking order, despite doing very little wrong. Both Konsa and Gabriel have seen a huge amount of minutes so far this season, hence why at least one should be protected, with Mosquera given a chance.

Mikel Merino

Mikel Merino scored twice during Arsenal's 3-0 victory over Slavia Prague 12 months ago, deployed as the centre-forward that night. His first Premier League start of the campaign came against Everton, but was in the lineup for the first two Champions League fixtures, likely to be so again here, perhaps in place of Martin Ødegaard.

Martín Zubimendi

Similarly, Arteta has numerous midfield options, hence why Martín Zubimendi's importance has diminished. He was one of the first names on the team sheet a year ago, but is now below Bruno Guimarães, Myles Lewis-Skelly and of course Declan Rice in the pecking order.

Had Zubimendi not sustained an ankle knock during the Leeds warm down, he would surely have started against Lille, only to then suffer a broken nose against Everton. Nevertheless, potentially donning a mask, the Spaniard deserves a start here, allowing Rice to sit this one out.

Viktor Gyökeres

Lastly, Viktor Gyökeres badly needs a goal doesn't he? The Swede opened his account for the campaign against Fleetwood, with the least aesthetically pleasing goal you are ever likely to see; they all count the same!

Gyökeres is though badly lacking confidence, but has bagged 11 Champions League goals across the last two seasons, including five during his first year at Arsenal. Against one of the tournament's weaker opposition, can he get on the scoresheet?

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