Mikel Arteta has finally decided to hand Pablo Mari his first start for the Arsenal first team.
The Spanish centre-back joined the club in January on an initial loan deal with an option to make the move permanent in the summer. Since arriving, he has played twice for the Under-23s - 45 minutes apiece against Chelsea and Manchester City's Under-23s in the Premier League 2.
With the game against City coming on Friday (February 28), Arteta gave an update on how Mari was doing ahead of this evening.
"Yeah I think they need minutes like Rob, Reiss and Ainsley as well. It was a good game for them to get the fitness levels tested and they trained today really well. They're ready to play." he said in his pre-match press conference .
Mari will partner David Luiz at centre-back - the Brazilian moves to the right side of the defence. Sokratis is at right-back with Ainsley Maitland-Niles on the bench and Bukayo Saka at left-back.
Lucas Torreira returns to the starting XI alongside Matteo Guendouzi as the midfield double-pivot with Joe Willock playing as the No.10.
Reiss Nelson and Gabriel Martinelli also make their returns on the wings. Nelson will be playing off the right as Martinelli comes off the left where he has without a doubt been more effective.
After being rested against Olympiacos, Eddie Nketiah returns to lead the line as Alexandre Lacazette drops to the bench with Nicolas Pepe. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is not in the squad.
Fans may be pleased with Mari being handed his debut, but they are also concerned that Sokratis is started ahead of Maitland-Niles once again.
Maitland-Niles also played 45 minutes for the Under-23s against Manchester City but was played at left-back. Nelson and Rob Holding - who is on the bench - played an equal amount of minutes too.
Arteta is of course no stranger to the FA Cup having lifted it twice while at Arsenal as a player. Having experienced what cup final day is like, that may give him added incentive to get back to Wembley come May.
"It's really special. It's probably one of the nicest games of the season when you play the final day. In England at Wembley, nice weather, an incredible atmosphere and it's a trophy that we very much link with our history," he said in his pre-match press conference .
"We want to continue to be attached to that knowing that on Monday night, in Portsmouth, it will be tough."
