Whatever front line Unai Emery picks against Tottenham it will be formidable even if he does not go with the trio of Aubameyang, Pepe and Lacazette from the start. The defence is vulnerable no matter who the Spaniard picks but the midfield spots are the one area that can decide the game.
You see, if Emery leaves Lacazette on the bench again, Pepe and Aubameyang complimented by Ceballos just behind is still a strong forward line, if he chooses Chambers over Luiz or visa versa it will still be a vulnerable defence and so on, whatever combination he goes with will probably be still effective or ineffective in those positions.
But the midfield has the power to change the game one way or another, a weak midfield would hand the initiative to Spurs, it would struggle in the link-up between defence and the forward line and lack creativity, whereas the right midfield combination has the ability to control the game, supplement the defence and open up channels of service to the forwards.
Emery will have to get the midfield spot on it is as simple as that, get it wrong and Tottenham will win, get it right and Arsenal will win.
Obviously one could argue that applies to the defence and forwards but I am not so sure, we half expect the defence to be a letdown and we are confident that whatever combination of strikers are used they will score but the same cannot be said of the midfield.
Does Emery go with the inexperienced Willock? Will he stick with the suspect Xhaka? Does he put his faith in Torreira to repeat his heroics of last season? What role for Ceballos? Can Guendouzi be trusted? What about Ozil? and so on.
Emery has some big decisions to make tomorrow none more so than who plays in the middle of the park and hopefully, he makes the right call.