Mikel Arteta takes charge of his first-ever knockout game as manager of Arsenal when the face Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United this evening.
The Gunners manager has a delicate task balancing rotating his squad, while overcoming the Championship leaders, with a trip to south London to face Crystal Palace on Saturday. The Spaniard’s main priority will be progressing back up the Premier League table, but with European qualification all but out of the question, a cup run could go a long way to appeasing some of the disdain from the club’s fanbase.
The most challenging decision for Arteta will be who to start up top for Arsenal. He has four options to choose from, but it is unlikely he will start Eddie Nketiah who has just had his loan with Leeds cut short. Therefore the options remaining include Gabriel Martinelli, who has had a breakthrough campaign with regards to Arsenal’s cup competitions scoring seven in seven Europa League and League Cup matches this season. The Brazilian has also registered two assists in Europe and could be in line for his first start of the Arteta era. But he sustained a hamstring injury in December and his return date is unknown.
Alternatively, there is top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has 13 Premier League goals to his name this season; more than double any other Arsenal player. The Gabonese international’s prowess is indisputable and Leeds United would endure a torrid evening attempting to keep the Gunners captain quiet. But Arteta may feel that after a hectic December schedule this is the perfect opportunity to give his prized asset some much-needed recovery time.
Arteta’s final option has been his preferred one to lead the line in all of his Premier League games, Alexandre Lacazette. The Frenchman is yet to reward his new boss with a goal, but against a lower division side, albeit the best one in the country, the Arsenal striker could get his season back on track and boost his confidence a little. Compatriot Nicolas Pepe could do with the same, and for those reasons, the pair could feature this evening.
However, the likelihood is that off the back of the busiest period in English football Martinelli will be selected to start against Leeds tonight, if he is fit enough to return. Should he feature, it is yet another opportunity for the young Brazilain to show his manager he is Premier League ready should the teenager be afforded the opportunity to start against the Whites.
