Mikel Arteta needs to drop £32m Arsenal star immediately against PSV in the Champions League

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Unfortunately, Mikel Arteta isn’t blessed for choices when Arsenal meet PSV Eindhoven in the first-leg of their Champions League tie this week.

It’s well documented that Arsenal will finish the season without a recognised striker owing to both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz succumbing to injury.

Of course, Arsenal have also been without Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli in addition, an incredibly tough period for Arteta to navigate.

And whilst Ethan Nwaneri has provided reason to remain positive with his performances on the right, Arsenal don’t have any natural fit centrally.

£32m midfielder Mikel Merino has been tasked with starting as a number nine in Arsenal’s previous two outings in the Premier League after scoring twice against Leicester City as a substitute, but the Gunners have been goalless whenever he’s started in the role.

Therefore, change is needed when Arsenal face PSV.

Mikel Arteta needs to trust Raheem Sterling to deliver in the Champions League

In truth, Leandro Trossard remains Arteta’s best choice to play centrally right now – he’s done so successfully on numerous occasions over the last year or so.

And in order to play Trossard as a striker, Arteta needs to trust Raheem Sterling to return to the side.

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Fortunately that would entail Sterling playing in his best position for Arsenal on the left wing, with Nwaneri keeping his spot on the right.

Sterling was much improved against Girona in the Champions League at the end of Arsenal’s league phase campaign when playing from the left, and Arteta needs to trust the experienced winger.

For Arteta, there might be the temptation to stick with Merino and stay resolute away from home in the first-leg, but Arsenal can’t surrender all chances of scoring.

And in addition, Merino looks a lot more effective as a nine when being subbed on against a stretched defence, a situation that suits how he times his runs into the box.

Myles Lewis-Skelly also needs to return for Arsenal

In terms of other selection headaches for Arteta, Myles Lewis-Skelly will be available – his domestic suspension doesn’t carry over to the Champions League.

Riccardo Calafiori was effectively playing as a second-striker from left-back against Nottingham Forest recently, but PSV will present a different challenge.

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Without their best players, Arsenal will need to suffer for periods in the Netherlands, and whilst Calafiori is an excellent defender in his own right, it seems like a game for Lewis-Skelly.

Perhaps Ben White might already be vying for a start at right-back on the other side of Arteta’s defence, but he doesn’t quite seem fully fit just yet.

Jurrien Timber has been a very consistent presence on the right in White’s absence, even if he’s perhaps excelled even more on the left.

A few tough calls for Arteta to make, but Merino should return to the bench for this one – Arsenal need to start on the front foot.