Arsenal FC XI vs Sporting: Most recent Jesus – Confirmed team news, predicted line-up, most recent Europa League injury

The striker is expected to be back in Arsenal’s starting line-up for the first time since the World Cup for the second leg of the Round of 16 at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal will be without Eddie Nketiah, who has been out since the start of the month with an ankle injury and has yet to recover.

“He’s better,” Mikel Arteta said. “He’s still in the trunk. He’s still a few weeks away and we have to be patient. It was a nasty injury and he has a big challenge ahead of him. Thank god it would have could have been worse, so he’s not in a bad place.

Arsenal drew 2-2 in Lisbon last week and Arteta is expected to name a strong side to book a place in the quarter-finals.

There will likely still be some rotation, however, with goaltender Matt Turner set to start. Kieran Tierney, Rob Holding and Takehiro Tomiyasu could come in defense.

Jorginho should replace Thomas Partey at the base of the midfield. Fabio Vieira is pushing to start after performing well recently.

In attack, Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson are in contention – but Arteta could look to get strong and rest the players once outside Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Arsenal probably XI (4-3-3): Turner; Tomiyasu, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Odegaard, Jorginho, Vieira; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli

THURSDAY 8:00 p.m. GMT, BT Sports

Place: Emirates Stadium

Arbitrator: Antonio Mateu Lahoz

The Arsenal team of: Huh, Ramsdale, Turner; Gabriel, Holding, Kiwior, Saliba, Tierney, Tomiyasu, White, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Partey, Saka, Smith Rowe, Trossard, Vieira, Xhaka; Jesus, Martinelli, Nelson.

Hurt: Elneny (knee), Nketiah (ankle)