Arsenal lineup vs. Atletico Madrid: Predicted XI for Champions League semi-final first leg

Arsenal will be without three players for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night.

Kai Havertz and Eberechi Eze were both forced off with ‘muscle niggles’ in the Gunners’ 1-0 Premier League win over Newcastle last weekend, and the former has now joined Mikel Merino (foot) and Jurrien Timber (groin) in the treatment room.

However, Eze is "ready to go" and trained along with Riccardo Calafiori, who could return to the matchday squad after a spell sideliend with a knock. Martin Zubimendi, meanwhile, was taken off at half time against the Magpies due to illness, but the midfielder should be ready to feature on Wednesday.

Head coach Mikel Arteta is expected to name a strong starting lineup, with Ben White likely to get the nod over Christian Mosquera to continue on the right side of a back four alongside William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Piero Hincapie.

Zubimendi should continue in centre-midfield alongside Declan Rice and captain Martin Odegaard, but Arteta may decide to make a couple of changes in the final third.

Star winger Bukayo Saka returned from injury to feature as a substitute last weekend and he could be ready to start on the right flank at the expense of Noni Madueke, while Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are both hoping to force their way back into the first XI on the left wing ahead of Eze.

In the absence of Havertz, Viktor Gyokeres is expected to lead the line; the Swede is Arsenal’s top scorer this season with 18 goals in all competitions, but he has only made the net ripple three times in his last 12 club appearances.

Arsenal possible starting lineup:

Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli

> Click here to see how Atletico Madrid could line up against Arsenal