Arsenal predicted lineup to face Shakhtar Donetsk tonight

Arsenal will face Shakhtar Donetsk at the Emirates Stadium today in a crucial UEFA Champions League clash. After a disappointing 2-0 loss to Bournemouth in their most recent Premier League match, Mikel Arteta’s side will be looking to bounce back in Europe. Arsenal are currently third in the Premier League with 17 points from eight games and have made a solid start to their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win over PSG and a 0-0 draw with Atlanta.

Arteta is expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation for this game. The predicted starting XI features David Raya in goal, with Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, and Riccardo Calafiori forming the defensive line. In midfield, Kai Havertz, Jorginho, and Declan Rice are likely to start, while Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, and Gabriel Martinelli will lead the attack.

PREDICTED LINEUP: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori, Havertz, Jorginho, Rice; Sterling, Jesus, Martinelli

Arsenal will need to secure a strong result to stay competitive in the new Champions League format, introduced this season. In this format, 36 teams compete in a single league phase instead of the traditional group stage. Each team is ranked based on their match results, with three points for a win and one for a draw.

The top eight teams from this league phase will automatically qualify for the round of 16. Teams finishing between 9th and 24th will face off in a two-legged knockout play-off to secure their spot in the round of 16, while teams finishing 25th or lower will be eliminated from the competition. The knockout phase will continue in its usual format, with the top-eight teams seeded for the round of 16.

Arsenal’s match against Shakhtar will be a key test as they aim to secure points in this new, highly competitive structure.