So Arsenal start the Europa League this week – Who should Emery pick to face Vorskla

Unai Emery started with an unchanged line-up against Newcastle yesterday, but it is absolutely certain that there will be wholesale changes when we take on the Ukranian minnows Vorskla on Thursday. Unai Emery told us after yesterday’s game: “We are going to change and use a lot of players for different competitions, but only thinking about the best performance for us to win on Thursday. Every competition for me is about [doing as well as you can] and normally you use a different goalkeeper in those [other] competitions, but it’s about giving [your best] performance.”

So Leno is a definite starter, but who else will be in the team. The ones I am sure of from the first team squad are Lichtsteiner, Holding, Mavropanos, Elneny, Iwobi and Welbeck.

From the youngsters the top candidates are Nketiah, Willock and Smith-Rowe of course, and other possibilities could be Jordi Osei-Tutu, Julio Pleguezuelo and Ben Sheaf.

With Arsenal playing Everton just three days later I don’t think Emery will risk too many first team players but there may be a couple of the bench just in case we get shocked by Vorskla, but surely this should just be a training game compared to our usual fare.

Who would you choose to play on Thursday?

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16 Comments

  1. Who I would pick is imitirial . Emery has stated at the press conference he wouldn’t make many, if any changes as he is prioritising the Europa League. I think perhaps keeper, right back, one midfielder and a forward so just 4 changes.

  2. last season we play the juniors and reserves in the group stage…

    this season, its up to Emery, hes the manager…he may want to go full strength all the way…

  3. Goal keeper: Leno
    Defenders: Leichestner, holding, mustafi,
    kolasonic
    Midfilders: guandouzi, elnany, torreira
    Attackers: iwobi, muktarian, welback.

  4. I would go with

    Leno
    Lichsteiner holding mavropanos bola
    Torreira elneny
    Mkhitaryan smith-rowe iwobi (if fit)
    Welbeck

    Martinez osei-tutu Pleguzuelo willock sheaf zelalem nketiah

    If iwobi isn’t fit, put nketiah in and add john-jules to the bench

  5. ION:

    Why not try a 4-4-2 formation?

    Leno – GK

    Monreal – LB
    Mustafi (Kosch when he’s fit) – CB
    Sokratis – CB
    Litchsteiner – RB

    Iwobi – LW
    Toreira – CDM
    Ramsey – CM
    Bellerin – RW

    Laca – ST
    Auba – ST

    This would give us a lot of threat and pace. Granted we start games slow already, we could do with such a good pacy attack on the counter… Auba is not a Winger. He’s being wasted out wide. Let them play together up top.

    Not the biggest Bellerin fan, but we could use his pace on the wing…. Since he is pretty much playing as a FW at the moment.

    Yes, this formation would sacrifice a number of midfield players (Ozil, Xhaka, Mhiki, Guendouzi) but would give us so much more in attack. We would be lethal!

  6. In competitive football such as in the Europa League Cup competition, it’s risky to underestimate the opponent team like Vorskla chances to perform well to do well. Therefore, I hope Arsenal will not allow themselves to be teleguided to thereby fall into the trap of underestimating Vorskla resolves to do well in the first leg first round ELC match against them on Thursday night at the Ems. Rather, the rotation Gunners who’ll likely play the match should not be overconfident in their game to beat Vorskla but be disciplined in their game as they play against them so as to become confident in beating them in the match as the game pans on.

  7. Leno, Lichtsteiner, Holding, Mustafi, Osei-Tutu, Elneny, Guendouzi, Welbeck, Iwobi, Mikhitaryan, Nketiah as starters.

  8. Out of seven Gooners who have posted actual starting elevens on here- or agreed with someone who has, in one case, – five have INCREDIBLY picked Mustafi to start. PERSONALLY, I WOULD NOT PICK HIM EVEN TO START A TRAINING GAME; HE IS ABSOLUTE RUBBISH. HE HAS NO BALANCE , NO JUDGEMENT , NO PACE. NOTHING!! To me , how he is within a million miles of Arsenal FC, is a total mystery. Worst CB since Schillachi, Djourou, Senderos and no better than any of them. Mavropanos should be a regular Prem starter alongside Sokratis and, surely , soon will be!

  9. Leno
    Bellerin mav holding monreal
    Guendouzi elneny
    Mikt
    Iwobi welbeck S. Rowe

    Subs: cech, nketiah, aubameyang , Torreira, sokratis litchestiner, willock

  10. Leno; lichsteiner, mavropanos, holding, osei-tutu; elneny, guendouzi, mhikitaryan; nketiah, welbeck, iwobi,… Bench- torriera, rowe-smith, mustafi, Martinez, bola, willock, zalalem, sheaf

    1. You’re right Jon, most posts before yours included Mustafi. After your post, none so far. Their listening.

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