Holding, Tierney, Bellerin and Lacazette could all start in Europa League clash with Vitoria
The Europa League is back and that means we could see a bunch of Arsenal players in action that should be playing in the Premier League.
In goal, Martinez is nailed on to start with Leno rested as per usual.
In defence, Kieran Tierney should start, as should Hector Bellerin on the flanks. Rob Holding will most likely partner Mustafi in the centre of defence.
Midfield is always a little more complicated but I do expect to see Lucas Torreira and Dani Ceballos named as starters. There should be a recall for Ainsley Maitland-Niles and it would not surprise me to see Joe Willock selected.
That leaves the frontline and you have to think that Gabriel Martinelli starts. The question is, who plays alongside him? I am backing Lacazette to get the nod following his return from injury.
So, this is the line-up I am expecting Emery to go with this evening against the Portuguese opponents.
Martinez
Bellerin
Mustafi
Holding
Tierney
Ceballos
Torreira
Willock
Maitland-Niles
Martinelli
Lacazette
The usual caveat applies with second-guessing Unai Emery in that he could field almost any sort of team leaving us all shocked. I mean, he does often enough. So, it would be no surprise if Ozil started as an example or Smith-Rowe.
But regardless, whatever team Emery puts out I predict way in advance it will put on a better show than what we saw from the so-called senior team on Monday night in the 1-0 loss against Sheff Utd.
That whatever team Emery picks will put up a better show than the team against SUtd is a no-brainer. Any change from that has to be an improvement. It is just about impossible to imagine a worse performance.
I hope Kolasinac starts so that Tierney plays vs Palace.
Been so dark, cold, wet & miserable here today. A good game/result later will do nicely! More than likely be the team we’ve been crying out for, bar 1 or 2..then they’ll all be rested on Sunday and Palace will turn up bullish (Just like Sheff Utd) & there goes the cycle again……
Am wondering why is Emery side lining Ozil up to now.
Give Ozil Ceballos and guendoze the midfield and Martinelli lacassette and Pepe time with Auba on the bench in case.
Chambers luiz holdingTierney
Martinez
The only problem I have with playing Bellerin, Torreira, Holding and Tierney is that Emery will use it as an excuse to start Xhaka, Socratis and Kolasinac on Sunday versus Palace. He will then give the reason that they played on Thursday so had to give them a break. If the former players do start I would be satisfied with them only playing the first half then use Xhaka, Socratis and Kolasinac to replace them.
Jamdowyouth. I totally agree. Emery has been too defensive on away premiership matches. But at the same time I think it’s good that we use the entire squad. And competition for places is essential, but at the same time as with Saka we need to see players in form and play them. Therefore I predict a good squad of players going into the new year and hopefully by then we will have many players who are ready to play for their places.
If Emery claims he does not want his defence to rely on Hector, Bellerin, Holding and Theirny, Will rather want his defence to rely on Luis, Socrates, kolasinic by completely benching the former set why we all watch the later set make a mockery of us .Can’t he mix atleast for away games ? Luis ,Holding and Socrates. At back 3 let kolasinic /Theirny and chambers/Hector play wing backs if must play soc and Luis. How difficult is thAt?
let all those that started against sheffield play as their supposed redemption except auba, saka and ceballos. Because we need the main guys in EPL. Dunno how emery just gets this all backward. we are not even in the main stage of the competition