Mikel Arteta might have just given away a big PSG selection hint with what Arsenal did vs Ipswich

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With respect to what remains of Arsenal’s Premier League campaign, most fans in N5 are focused on the club’s Champions League travails.

In truth, a lot of Arsenal supporters may have been surprised to see Bukayo Saka in the starting line-up against Ipswich Town on Sunday afternoon.

Saka also started at the Santiago Bernabeu against Real Madrid in midweek, a player Mikel Arteta will be mindful of resting.

Of course, Saka was always going to make a difference against Ipswich if he was involved and he did exactly that in the first half — creating two goals even if he won’t be attributed either assist.

However, there was also another interesting narrative at Portman Road — Arteta’s decision not to start Thomas Partey.

Mikel Arteta is already preparing for Arsenal vs PSG

Partey will be suspended against PSG having picked up a late yellow card in Spain, one that infuriated Declan Rice on the night owing to its needless nature.

And although he’ll get a rest against PSG, Arteta decided to name a midfield without Partey in Suffolk.

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For only the fourth time this season, Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino and Rice all started together in the middle — a trio Arteta might have been trying ahead of PSG arriving in north London.

Of course, Merino dropping into midfield means that Leandro Trossard comes in as Arsenal’s number nine.

And the Belgium international can’t have done his chances of starting against the Parisiens any harm but scoring twice against Ipswich.

Clearly Arteta has options, and he’ll perhaps also use the upcoming 90 minutes against Crystal Palace to experiment.

Myles Lewis-Skelly proved his versatility to Mikel Arteta

That being said, Arteta did also make a ton of changes to his team in the second half against Ipswich when the hosts were down to 10-men.

Mark Clattenburg agreed with Leif Davis’ red card incidentally, one that did seem to leave Saka with a bit of an issue.

But focusing on the positives for Arsenal — Myles Lewis-Skelly looked impressive as a number six late on against Ipswich.

The circumstances were obviously quite favourable for the youngster to come on and succeed, but he still proved to Arteta that he’s a serious option in the middle.

Of course, Arteta could use Lewis-Skelly as a number eight too if he wants to keep Rice in a deeper role protecting the back four.

Partey has given Arsenal an issue ahead of their first leg with PSG, but there are still credible solutions.