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Arsenal XI vs Slavia Prague: Starting lineup and confirmed team news - Aubameyang dropped
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang starts on the bench for Arsenal in tonight’s Europa League quarter-final first-leg tie against Slavia Prague.
The captain has surprisingly been named as a substitute at Emirates Stadium, with Alexandre Lacazette leading the line instead.
Bukayo Saka, Granit Xhaka and Emile Smith Rowe all return after missing Saturday’s listless 3-0 defeat by Liverpool due to injury and illness, but Real Madrid loanee Martin Odegaard misses out altogether.
The Norwegian has been nursing an ankle issue since the international break and was always considered a doubt for tonight’s game.
Defenders David Luiz and Kieran Tierney are both out with knee injuries, with the latter’s absence a major blow to Arsenal.
The Gunners do not have another senior left-back in the squad, with Tierney in a race against time to return this season.
Cedric Soares gets the nod at left-back against Slavia Prague, with Arteta seemingly resisting the urge to revert to a three-man defence.
Arsenal XI: Leno, Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Cedric, Xhaka, Partey, Willian, Smith Rowe, Saka, Lacazette
Subs:Ryan, Hein, Ceballos, Aubameyang, Pepe, Mari, Nelson, Elneny, Nketiah, Martinelli, Azeez, Lopez
Slavia Prague XI: Kolar, Bah, Zima, Holes, Boril, Hromada, Provod, Dorley, Stanciu, Olayinka, Sima
Subs: Tecl, Stejskal, Kuchta, Sevcik, Traore, Masopust, Kovar, Lingr, Visinsky
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