Bernd Leno and Lucas Torreira are in line for their first Arsenal starts as the Gunners host Vorskla Poltava in their Europa League opener on Thursday (kick-off 8pm).
Unai Emery – who won the competition three times with Sevilla – is expected to ring the changes, with Leno yet to feature for the Gunners since his summer move from Bayer Leverkusen.
Torreira will also be given his chance to impress, with Emery adding that any of the players who start on Thursday could be in line to feature against Everton on Sunday.
“First is tomorrow, then we are going to think about Sunday,” he said. “Tomorrow we are going to change, to give the players options, to find minutes, confidence on the pitch. But maybe tomorrow’s players can play Sunday.
“Every title for us is very important. In my career, the ambition is very important for continuing to improve and continuing to achieve the objectives in my career personally and with the team. I want to play for every title going forward.”
Arsenal were the losing semi-finalists in the Europa League last year, but Vorskla Poltava manager Vasyl Sachko says his side are capable of getting a win.
“Our club is writing history, writing history for our city and that is a huge honour for us,” he said. “We haven’t come here just for a stroll in the park, we understand that Arsenal are the favourites but nevertheless our team is capable of pulling off this feat.
“Arsenal are not a Europa League team, they are a Champions League team. We are going to motivate our players to play well and give a good account of themselves.”
Team news
Mohamed Elneny, Danny Welbeck and Stephan Lichtsteiner will be pushing for rare outings.
However, Laurent Koscielny (Achilles), Sead Kolasinac (knee), Ainsley Maitland-Niles (leg) and Carl Jenkinson (ankle) remain absent.
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
