Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger made the surprise decision of naming his starting eleven for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Galatasray in a pre-match press conference on Monday, ahead of the Turk Telekom Arena tie.
The biggest news in Wenger's team selection is the return of French right-back Mathieu Debuchy, who has been out for three months with an ankle injury, whilst Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny returns to the first-team after recovering from a hip injury.
Many big names have been left behind in London, top scorer and this season's star player Alexis Sanchez being the biggest name not to make the trip to Turkey, with Le Prof naming a bench consisting of young, unknown players.
"To make it as simple as possible, I have 11 experienced players and six young field players on the bench. That means I have nothing to hide," the French manager revealed.
"The players who needed it stayed behind - like Cazorla, Sanchez, Gibbs - Giroud is not qualified - and Welbeck, who could have traveled but recently had a little knee problem, so took advantage of that to rest him.
"Sanchez had a groin problem for some time, and he has played 27 games.... it is more just the number of repetitive games we have."
Injury to the Chilean attacker, alongside Danny Welbeck's knee problem, has handed a rare starting berth to Lukas Podolski and Joel Campbell, who have spent most of this season on the bench, with Yaya Sanogo also handed the responsbility of leading Arsenal's attack.
No Alexis Sanchez for Tuesday clash with Galatasaray. The Chilean is out with a groin problem
#afc v Gala (4-3-3): Szczesny; Debuchy, Mertesacker, Chambers, Bellerin; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Flamini, Ramsey; Campbell, Sanogo, Podolski
— David Hytner (@DaveHytner) December 8, 2014
The Gunners, who beat the Turkish giants in their previous encounter at the Emirates Stadium 4-1, have already secured progression to the round of 16, but look to pip German heavyweights Borussia Dortmund to top spot.
The north London side will need to beat Hamza Hamzaoğlu men and hope Jurgen Klopp's side succumb to defeat at home against Anderlecht in order to finish as group leaders.
Arsenal's starting XI: Szczesny, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Chambers, Bellerin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Flamini, Ramsey, Campbell, Sanogo, Podolski
Arsenal's bench: Emiliano Martinez, Stefan O'Connor, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Gedion Zelalem, Glen Kamara, Chuba Akpom, Alex Iwobi
