How Arsenal could line up against Benfica

Arsenal resume their quest for European glory on Thursday when they travel to Rome to take on Portuguese giants Benfica in the 'away' leg of their Europa League last-32 showdown.

The Gunners head into this game on the back of a resounding 4-2 triumph over Leeds United in the Premier League, during which Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored his first Premier League hat-trick for the club on his return to the starting lineup.

Arsenal were the only team to progress from the group stage with a perfect tally of six wins from six matches, and the Europa League could represent their best chance of returning to the Champions League given their mid-table standing in the English top flight.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Arsenal could line up for the first leg.

Doubtful: Kieran Tierney (calf), Thomas Partey (muscle), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ankle)

> Click here for Arsenal's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

The kick to the ankle that Aubameyang took late on in the Leeds victory is not expected to keep him out of this match, but Arsenal are now set to investigate whether or not their captain breached coronavirus protocols after a video emerged of him getting a tattoo.

However, the prolific frontman has not been ruled out of this game at the time of writing and will be expected to spearhead the attack once more after his best performance of the season against Leeds.

Bukayo Saka continues to go from strength to strength on the right-hand side of the attack and is certain to reprise that role on Thursday, but it would not be a surprise to see an alteration on the left flank.

Nicolas Pepe has flattered to deceive in the Premier League, but he boasts three goals and three assists so far in the Europa League and Benfica are expected to be without both recognised right-backs through injury, so the Ivorian could be given the nod for this game.

Pepe's potential inclusion means that there is only space for one of Martin Odegaard or Emile Smith Rowe in the attacking quartet, and given the fact that the latter went off after only an hour against Leeds, Mikel Arteta could opt to start Smith Rowe as Odegaard builds up his match fitness.

Thomas Partey is rated as having an "unlikely" chance of returning in time for this game, but Granit Xhaka and Dani Ceballos formed an effective partnership in the engine room on Sunday and are not in any danger of being broken up for the first leg.

Kieran Tierney is thought to have a higher chance of returning, but no risks will be taken over the Scotland international with Cedric Soares capable of filling in, while Gabriel and David Luiz could keep Rob Holding out of the team once more.