Arsenal predicted XI vs Olympiakos: Lacazette, Gabriel and Ceballos start

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal face a potentially pivotal week in their season with the weekend’s North London derby being preceded by the first-leg of their Europa League last-16 tie with Olympiakos on Thursday.

Europe appears to offer the Gunners their best route into next season’s Champions League. But Mikel Arteta will be under no illusions just how important it is that Arsenal secure a positive result on Sunday.

With that in mind, it looks likely that the Spaniard will make a raft of changes from the side that drew at Burnley on Saturday.

In total, we are – very tentatively – predicting there could be eight new faces in the side. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Thomas Partey and David Luiz could be amongst those left on the bench against the Greek outfit.

Elsewhere, Calum Chambers, Kieran Tierney, Pablo Mari, Granit Xhaka and Willian may not start.

It would be a gamble to leave some of those names out. But Arteta is in a difficult situation given the game that awaits at the weekend.

And he will still be able to name a strong side on Thursday. Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding, Gabriel Magalhaes – who cost just over £23 million – and Cedric Soares may make up the backline.

Dani Ceballos has a point to prove in this competition after his errors against Benfica. And he may start alongside Mohamed Elneny, who has been less impressive in recent months after starting the season in inspired form.

Alexandre Lacazette could lead the line. And he may start in front of a three consisting of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Nicolas Pepe.

Admittedly, starting Saka and Odegaard may not be ideal, but the pair certainly have the quality to all but put this tie to bed ahead of the second-leg.

It is really difficult to know how strong Arteta will go against Olympiakos at this stage. But there is a second-leg to potentially make amends if things go wrong this week.

There is, obviously, no second-leg against Tottenham.

With that in mind, here is how Arsenal may look for their next game…