Unai Emery has named his Arsenal starting XI for today’s tough encounter at Vicarage Road, and the defence raises plenty of question marks.
Laurent Koscielny finds himself paired with the youngster Mavroponos, with the heavily criticised Shkodran Mustafi fielded at right-back, and the selected players, paired with a return to 4-4-2 which we had been struggling in prior to the change to playing wing-backs, is frightening.
I can accept that the manager is trying to make changes after a number of failings away from home over the past months, as well as acknowledging the lack of options he has in defence currently and the fact that we have to play Napoli on Thursday night, but with the race for the top four so tight AND important, this has me worried.
Watford have been one of those sides who you have not wanted to come up against this term, along with Wolverhampton Wanderers, and the Hornets are also playing for a spot in seventh in the league, which may earn a place in Europe. In fact the only way seventh spot is not open to an EL spot is if Watford eliminate Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley, highlighting just how impressive they have been
The most exciting news is the fact that Xhaka and Torreira will be paired in midfield, and that duo has been emphatic together so far this term.
This team certainly has enough in it to win the game, but I will be very shocked to escape from our short trip to Watford with a clean sheet…
Am I the only one worried by this back four? Does Mustafi’s name alone on the teamsheet scare any of you also?
Pat J