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Tashan Deniran-Alleyne & Kaya Kaynak & Tom Canton

Arsenal line-ups vs FK Bodo/Glimt as Marquinhos starts, Tomiyasu switches roles, no Martinelli

Arsenal can take a giant step towards confirming a place in the Europa League knockout phase when they face FK Bodo/Glimt on Thursday evening.

The Gunners know exactly what to expect from the Norwegian side, having recorded a 3-0 win in the reverse fixture at the Emirates Stadium just last week on what was their second game of the group phase with Eddie Nketiah, Rob Holding and summer signing Fabio Vieira all getting on the scoresheet.

Since then, Arsenal have beaten Liverpool to hold on to top spot in the Premier League table. However, despite winning all but one fixture across all competitions so far this season, Mikel Arteta must ensure complacency doesn't creep into his side, as topping their Europa League group comes with its many advantages.

READ MORE: Every word Mikel Arteta said on Jesus absence, Aubameyang comments and Tierney reaction

With that in mind, it's absolutely essential that the Spaniard gets his team selection for the game spot on. There should be at least one youngster named on the substitutes bench, with Gabriel Jesus staying home after missing Wednesday morning's training session at London Colney.

Thankfully for Arteta, football. london's Arsenal writers, Kaya Kaynak, Tom Canton and Tashan Deniran-Alleyne, are on hand to offer their assistance. Below, they take a look at who they think should be starting for the visitors in Thursday evening's clash against Bodo/Glimt.

Kaya Kaynak - Chief Arsenal correspondent

With an important league game against Leeds coming up this weekend, I would again look to ring the changes if I were Mikel Arteta. That starts in goal, where Matt Turner may well need his thermals to keep warm ahead of what is likely to be a dominant display for Arsenal.

The only member of the back four from Liverpool that I'd keep is Takehiro Tomiyasu, but I'd take advantage of his versatility to shift him to left-centre-back. Cedric would be in for his first start of the season, with Rob Holding and Kieran Tierney completing the defence.

I'd opt for Albert Sambi Lokonga in the six, and as I don't think Arsenal are quite comfortable enough in the group yet to start throwing in too many academy players, I'd start Granit Xhaka to be the uncle in the midfield alongside the more junior Fabio Vieira.

Reiss Nelson looked decent last Thursday, and Gabriel Martinelli needs a rest, so I'd bring the Hale Ender in. Eddie Nketiah and Marquinhos would then complete the remainder of my front line.

Kaynak's Arsenal XI vs FK Bodo/Glimt: Turner; Cedric, Holding, Tomiyasu, Tierney; Sambi Lokonga; Xhaka, Vieira; Marquinhos, Nketiah, Nelson.

Tom Canton - Arsenal writer

There is little doubt that this match against Bodo/Glimt is going to be tougher than what opposed Arsenal a week ago. In Norway, this side have managed some serious scalps, especially in Europe.

The artificial pitch and icy conditions are sure to play into the home side's favour, and therefore choosing a line-up that protects key first-team players was always a priority. Were it not for a strong PSV side also in the group, I'd perhaps have rested more in this game down purely to the external factors coming into this game.

With the likes of Matt Smith and Bradley Ibrahim potentially on the bench, the pair both trained with the senior side before flying to Scandinavia, there's an opportunity to give Granit Xhaka a much-needed break.

Gabriel Jesus is rested, and Eddie Nketiah naturally comes in. Reiss Nelson really surprised me last Thursday when he came on, particularly with a dogged determination to show what he can do and hence his inclusion here.

Vieira and Marquinhos again have chances to shine, and hopefully, they will. Pushing the first-team starters is going to be key.

Canton's Arsenal XI vs FK Bodo/Glimt: Turner; Cedric, Holding, Tomiyasu, Tierney; Lokonga, Xhaka, Vieira; Marquinhos, Nelson, Nketiah

Tashan Deniran-Alleyne - Arsenal Writer

Mikel Arteta has been consistent with his line-ups in the Europa League thus far. He's picked the exact same team for the first two games, and the reward has been maximum points from both.

However, I think he should look to rest the three players who have started every single game this season - Gabriel Magalhaes, Granit Xhaka and Gabriel Martinelli with Sunday's game away at Leeds United in mind, not to mention next week's clash against PSV Eindhoven.

Understandably, Arteta hasn't had the option of doing this, given injuries to Mohamed Elneny and Emile Smith Rowe in particular. But with Reiss Nelson getting minutes last Thursday, he can replace Martinelli, whilst I'd swap Xhaka with Martin Odegaard from the midfield that started the home game against Bodo/Glimt.

Takehiro Tomiyasu impressed as a left-back in the win over Liverpool, but I would use him as the left-sided centre-half on Thursday with Kieran Tierney and Cedric Soares operating as the full-backs. Another change I would like to see is Bukayo Saka starting instead of Marquinhos, as the Brazilian did struggle last week and should be used as an impact substitute.

Deniran-Alleyne's Arsenal XI vs FK Bodo/Glimt: Turner, Cedric, Holding, Tomiyasu, Tierney; Lokonga, Odegaard, Vieira; Saka, Nketiah, Nelson

READ NEXT:

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