Who will Arsenal start in defence against Preston North End? | OneFootball

After further injuries to Arsenal’s starting defensive options, Mikel Arteta now has to figure out a new back four for Wednesday’s game against Preston North End.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Gabriel of Arsenal reacts as he appears to be injured as he speaks to Jurrien Timber during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at Emirates Stadium on October 27, 2024. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Magalhaes were both withdrawn earlier than planned during Arsenal’s match against Liverpool on Sunday, with the defensive duo suffering untimely injuries.

The Gunners have a week of big away games against Newcastle United, Inter Milan, and Chelsea coming up, but first they travel to Preston for a League Cup tie against Preston North End.

Timber and Gabriel are widely expected to miss that match, given they have just two days to recover. They’ll join Riccardo Calafiori, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Kieran Tierney on the growing defensive injury list.

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND: William Saliba of Arsenal runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Evanilson of AFC Bournemouth (obscured) during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal FC at Vitality Stadium on October 19, 2024. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

The good news is that William Saliba will be available, having now served his red-card suspension.

Whether Saliba will start this game is debatable. Arsenal might not want to risk an injury to another key starter, but Saliba has also only played 120 minutes of Arsenal’s last three games. He’s not in particular need of a rest.

Assuming Saliba starts, he’ll probably be paired with Jakub Kiwior. It would be good to get them a game together in case Gabriel’s injury is enough to keep him out of the next few matches.

Youth duo Ayden Heaven and Maldini Kacurri were both in the squad for the last round against Bolton Wanderers, so either of them could come in if Arteta wants to rest his senior stars.

Ayden Heaven in training with the Arsenal first team (Photo via Arsenal.com)

At left-back, Oleksandr Zinchenko is seemingly available, though he’s yet to play a single minute since his injury. Perhaps this is the time to ease him back in, given the lower stakes of a League Cup tie.

Myles Lewis-Skelly did well against Liverpool, and he should be available as a Zinchenko alternative.

But it’s at right-back where Arsenal are most likely to turn to a youth player. With Timber and Tomiyasu out and Ben White only recently back from injury, an academy player could help out by filling in.

Josh Nichols is surely the favourite, having played 90 minutes at right-back against Bolton.

The youngster also did well in pre-season, so he’s made a good case for himself. He was one of five youth players in training with the first team ahead of Sunday’s Liverpool game.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Josh Nichols of Arsenal controls the ball during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal and Bolton Wanderers at Emirates Stadium on September 25, 2024. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

In summary, Zinchenko, Kiwior, Saliba, and White are available as a senior quartet, but Lewis-Skelly, left-footer Heaven, Kacurri, and Nichols could fill in for each of the four respectively. Thomas Partey could also play at right-back again if necessary.

Our prediction is that Zinchenko, Kiwior, Saliba, and Nichols will start, but there are a lot of factors at play ahead of Wednesday’s game.