SHKODRAN MUSTAFI will be given one final chance to prove he has a future at Arsenal against Burnley as Unai Emery shuffles the pack after the club’s Europa League exploits.
The Gunners reached their first European final in 13 years after beating the defender’s former side 7-3 over two legs to set up a match with London rivals Chelsea.
The much-maligned German wasn’t given the chance to return to his old stomping ground after another error-strewn season in North London.
The 27-year-old, who has been linked with a transfer to AC Milan, will return ahead of Laurent Koscielny, who is unable to complete three games in a week.
The European route is now Arsenal‘s best shot of breaking back into the Champions League – with Emery and Co needing an eight-goal swing to pip Spurs to fourth.
Yet victory at Turf Moor would guarantee the Gunners finish fifth and avoid playing in the Europa League second qualifying round should Watford lift the FA Cup.
I am going to decide with the players who are hungry and in good physical condition to play this match
Unai Emery
Emery suffered fresh injury concerns when Sead Kolasinac and Ainsley Maitland-Niles both picked up knocks in the 3-2 against Valencia and will likely be rested.
The former Paris Saint-Germain boss is also without long-term absentees Danny Welbeck, Hector Bellerin and Rob Holding, who remain sidelined for the season.
Aaron Ramsey will not play for the Gunners again after suffering a hamstring problem before his move to Juventus, while Barcelona loanee Denis Suarez remains sidelined.
Mesut Ozil is set to make a rare appearance in a Premier League away game opposite the returning Alex Iwobi, with Matteo Guendouzi also expected to start in midfield.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan could come into the front line, while Stephan Lichtsteiner may feature at right-back in front of Emery’s number one Bernd Leno.
The Arsenal boss hinted at changes after the game in Valencia when he said: “We arrived home at 6am and today we cancelled training because it’s important to rest.
“Tomorrow we are going to prepare for Sunday’s match but I am going to decide with the players who are hungry and in good physical condition to play this match.
“We struggled a lot here against [Burnley]. I remember this match and I watched it two weeks ago when they drew with Chelsea. It was a very tough match against Chelsea and I’m expecting the same on Sunday in Burnley.
“We are going to play with the idea of imposing our gameplan, our capacity and our team against them. We know it’s going to be a difficult match with long balls, second actions and set-pieces, so we need to defend well in these situations.”
