Arsenal will look to secure a top-eight spot in the UEFA Champions League table as they travel to meet Girona in their final league-phase match of the season.
The Gunners will have to do so without the services of Bukayo Saka, who is still a ways away from returning after hamstring surgery.
They are third in the table behind only Liverpool and Barcelona and have done much of their work without Saka, who has been out since mid-December. His return is expected in late February or early March, by which point the knockout phase will be underway.
WATCH: UEFA Champions League with a FREE trial of Paramount+ in USA | A new era of UEFA Champions League in Australia, only on Stan Sport
The Sporting News runs through the latest team news and injury updates for both sides.
Girona vs. Arsenal lineups, predicted starting 11, team news
Girona were forced to replace goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga at halftime of their weekend league game against Rayo Vallecano. If he can’t recover in time, Pau Lopez would take his place in net.
They also lost Daley Blind in that match as he was forced off on the half-hour mark and replaced by Alejandro Francis. Meanwhile, Bryan Gil is suspended for yellow-card accumulation after earning his third booking against AC Milan last time out.
Arsenal fans should be aware of the threat Cristhian Stuani presents as a bench option, having scored four goals as a substitute this season after bagging six the previous campaign.
Girona predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): P. Lopez (GK) — A. Martinez, D. Lopez, Juanpe, Frances — Martin, Herrera — Tsygankov, Van de Beek, Danjuma — Ruiz
Injured: Gazzaniga (back), Blind (undisclosed), Krejci (hip), M. Gutierrez (ankle)
Suspended: Gil (yellow-card accumulation)
MORE: All the latest Arsenal news | Champions League top goal scorers | 2024/25 Premier League top goal scorers list
Arsenal are without Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus who are both down with long-term issues. Saka should be back in around a month, but Jesus is likely done for the season with an ACL injury.
It’s believed that Martin Odegaard will return after missing the Wolves game due to injury, but Gabriel could be given a rest after sitting out Monday’s training. Other Arsenal players with injury issues include defenders Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu, who have both been out for most of 2024/25.
Mikel Arteta has a decision to make at left-back, with young Myles Lewis-Skelly impressing but Riccardo Calafiori also pushing for time, scoring the winner against Wolves last weekend after Lewis-Skelly was controversially sent off.
Arsenal predicted lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Raya (GK) — Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly — Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice — Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard
Injured: Saka (hamstring), Jesus (ACL), Odegaard (illness, doubt), Gabriel (fitness, doubt), White (knee), Tomiyasu (knee)
Suspended: None
Girona vs. Arsenal live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this Champions League match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
