Arsenal return to Premier League action on Saturday evening when they host Brentford at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners will need to refocus after their heroics against Real Madrid in midweek – and ahead of the return leg at the Bernabeu – in order to keep their Premier League title hopes alive.
Arsenal sit nine points behind Liverpool in the table, but the Reds lost last time out, so the Gunners will be keen on applying as much pressure as possible while the race is still open.
Paul Merson has now predicted how Arsenal will fare against Brentford as he tipped Mikel Arteta to start a player with less than 1,000 minutes of football under his belt this season.
Paul Merson tips Raheem Sterling to start for Arsenal as he predicts 2-1 win over Brentford
Merson believes Arsenal will have just enough to get over line against Brentford, predicting a 2-1 win for the hosts.
He also backed Arteta to make a number of changes on the day, tipping Raheem Sterling to get a rare start for the Gunners.
Merson said he wouldn’t start Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice or Martin Odegaard, but despite the potential rotation, Arsenal should still have enough to win.
“As I said earlier, I don’t think the Arsenal vs Real Madrid tie is over yet,” Merson wrote on Sportskeeda.
“That makes this a tricky game for the Gunners. Brentford are not an easy team to face in the Premier League.
“I don’t think Mikel Arteta believes his team are through to the semi-finals of the Champions League despite the 3-0 win.
“So I’m expecting him to rest a few players against Brentford.
“Arsenal are 10 points clear of Manchester City in sixth-place, so they are in the driving seat for Champions League qualification next season.
“They have no chance of winning the league title anymore so they will focus on the Champions League.
“I wouldn’t start Bukayo Saka in this game. He was excellent during midweek and Arsenal will need him fresh for the second leg.
“The same applies to Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, so I’m expecting a few changes with Raheem Sterling potentially involved from the start.
“Even with all the changes, I think Arsenal will get the three points.”
Why Raheem Sterling missed out on Arsenal v Real Madrid
Sterling’s loan move to Arsenal was the big story of the summer transfer window’s deadline day, but he has had to make do with a bit-part role at N5.
Sterling has managed a decent tally of appearances, with 24 under his belt, but many of them have been as a substitute for a total of just 999 minutes.
However, the reason Sterling missed out on a place in the Arsenal matchday squad against Real Madrid was due to suspension.
The reason Sterling misses out is through suspension, as the winger hit the threshold for a one-match ban.
The 30-year-old picked up a yellow card late on in the last-16 second leg against PSV Eindhoven, which was his third of the Champions League campaign.
As per Champions League rules, three yellow cards will result in a one-match suspension, along with any subsequent odd number that follows it.
Sterling will therefore be available against Brentford, as well as against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
