Riccardo Calafiori dropped, big Declan Rice decision - Arsenal Champions League lineups vs Sporting

Arsenal are back in Champions League action this week and looking to push into the top eight places in the new league phase of the competition. It is a big game in Portugal against a strong Sporting CP side who have picked up ten points fm their four matches so far.

The Portuguese team sit firmly in the top eight, only behind Liverpool in the table at the halfway stage and will offer up a stern test for Mikel Arteta 's side.

Arsenal on the other hand are just outside the top eight and will need a few good results in the second half of the league phase in order to finish in the top eight and qualify directly for the last 16.

It is sure to be an intriguing contest at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, particularly with the Gunners coming up against a striker in good form and a player they have been linked with signing in Viktor Gyokeres.

Here football.london writers take a look at the decisions to be made and name the teams they would choose if theyw ere in charge instead of Mikel Arteta.

Kaya Kaynak

If I were Mikel Arteta I'd be looking to build on the momentum of Saturday's impressive victory over Nottingham Forest. He did make plenty of changes on Sunday though, and I think you can afford switch it up again here.

Defensively, options are relatively limited. Personally I think you can afford to play Oleksandr Zinchenko here and keep Riccardo Calafiori back for the weekend. Jurrien Timber then has to start at right-back.

In the middle I'm playing Thomas Partey instead of Jorginho, while Declan Rice comes back into the XI after being rested at the weekend. Martin Odegaard meanwhile has to start.

Bukayo Saka is in the same boat in the front line. On the left Gabriel Martinelli gets the nod, while I'm going for Kai Havertz up front.

Kaynak's team: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.

Lee Wilmot

With Arsenal currently just outside of the top eight at the halfway stage of the new league phase and a couple of difficult-looking matches to come even after this one, Mikel Arteta needs to go strong in Portugal.

The Gunners should be high on confidence after ending their winless run in the Premier League with a convincing victory over Nottingham Forest at the weekend and they are almost at full strength too.

David Raya obviously starts in goal and I think I'd choose the strongest available defence - Jurrien Timber, Gabriel Magalahaes, William Saliba and Riccardo Calafiori. Arsenal will be up against an in-form striker in Viktor Gyokeres, who will potentially be a name in the frame for the Gunners to sign next summer.

In midfield I think I'd go defensive and give Declan Rice a bit longer to recover. He was not risked on Saturday and I think he could be saved for the weekend here too, with Thomas Partey and Jorginho offering a defensive shield for Martin Odegaard to go and play ahead of them.

Then up top it's Bukayo Saka - obviously - and Gabriel Martinelli supporting Kai Havertz for me.

Wilmot's team: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Jorginho, Partey, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.

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