[4-3-3]: Saka and Nwaneri starts, Academy striker replaced Merino and Gabriel replaced by academy defender- Arsenal predicted lineup against Everton as Mikel Arteta rested SIX first-team player to avoid more injuries ahead of Real Madrid’s clash
Mikel Arteta is weighing up whether to hand Bukayo Saka his first start in more than three months as Arsenal travel to Everton on Saturday.
The Gunners make their final ever trip to Goodison Park for the lunchtime kick-off, but with one eye firmly on Tuesday night’s huge clash with Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.
Saka made his comeback from a serious hamstring injury in the midweek victory over Fulham, scoring the second goal in a 2-1 win.
Arteta now faces a choice of whether to hand his star man an opportunity from the start on Merseyside, or whether to again use him off the bench.
“He needs exposure, you know, and he’s going to have exposure,” Arteta said. “He played 30 minutes [against Fulham].
“He felt really well. He scored a goal and he wants more. He’s clear. In the last two days, he’s demanding more and he wants more.”
Elsewhere, Arteta is managing an injury crisis in defence, with Gabriel ruled out for the season after suffering a hamstring problem against Fulham.
On Friday, the Arsenal boss confirmed that both Ben White and Jurrien Timber have “a chance” of being fit to face the Toffees, but whether he risks either and for how long remains to be seen, with the Madrid game looming large.
Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard
Injured: Gabriel, Calafiori, Tomiyasu, Havertz, Jesus
Doubts: White, Timber
Time and date: 12:30pm BST on Saturday April 5, 2025
Venue: Goodison Park
