Mikel Arteta is sweating over the fitness of two of his right-backs ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Thursday night.
Cedric Soares is yet to return from the hip issue he sustained in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final against Liverpool, while Takehiro Tomiyasu is still struggling with a calf problem.
Mohamed Elneny will also take a little longer to recover after the Africa Cup of Nations, but Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey are both making timely returns from suspension.
Ben White could deputise at right-back if neither Cedric nor Tomiyasu make the cut – allowing Rob Holding to partner Gabriel Magalhaes in defence – but Cedric should have a strong chance of being available.
With Partey and Xhaka sure to form their usual midfield pairing having both served their time on the naughty step, Emile Smith Rowe and Albert Sambi Lokonga could return to the substitutes bench.
Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli are all fit to start in the final third, with Arteta now left with Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah as his only two centre-forward options.
Lacazette should get the nod from the off here, but a new striker will be on the agenda for the Gunners after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s exit for Barcelona.
Arsenal possible starting lineup: Ramsdale; Cedric, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Lacazette
