Midfield is the most crucial part of the team selection that Unai Emery must get right.
If the midfield is not right then Arsenal will lose, that we have learned at huge cost since Emery took charge. The defence needs help and the forwards need service, two areas in which the midfield is pivotal.
It is an almost certainty that Granit Xhaka and Matteo Guendouzi will start and so, in reality, there is just the one place up for grabs.
It does not need an expert to question the inclusion of Xhaka but that is Emery for you. For some reason, the Spaniard has a lot of faith in the Swiss international.
Gunedouzi deserves his place because he is in form and hopefully he will be more productive than usual.
I suspect that Joe Willock will not be selected and that a more creative individual will be given the final starting berth.
Dani Ceballos looks a good shout to be a starter. The alternative is Mesut Ozil but I doubt The German will even be in the squad.
So, the chances are that Emery will have a midfield trio of Guendouzi, Xhaka and Ceballos.
Personally, I would have prefered Ceballos, Torreira and Willock but as usual, Emery will go with the players he trusts.
Same as the situation with the defence, if Emery gets his midfield selections wrong today and loses it will be his own fault.
Too often the wrong team has been selected by the 43-year-old. The pressure will increase signficantly if Palace win today. Getting the team selection right will help avoid that scenario.
Torreira, Guendouzi, Ceballos, Pepe and Martinelli
Good shout
I would go with that 👌
Well we know Xhaka and Guendouzi will be 2 of them ,and knowing Emery it will be another defensive midfielder with them .
The question is not what midfield WILL play, it is what midfield SHOULD play…
Willock was terrible in the last few games. Stop it. Xhaka. Guenduzi and Ceballos for me. Torreira can be brought on when we need more bite.
Leno
Chambers..Holding..Luiz..Tierney
Guendouzi..Ceballos..Torreira
Pepe..Aubameyang..Martinelli
………………. Leno
Bellerin . Chambers . Holding . Tierney
……Guendouzi ………… Willock
Aubameyang …… Ceballos …… Martinelli
………………Lacazette
I love that line-up
Torreira for Willock, in my opinion.
Good lineup apart from willock. Over rated. Play Torreira in his place
Midfield you say?.….
Unai: (checks on his scientists) how are those clones coming?
Lead scientist: they won’t be ready for today’s game sir
Unai: aww, I still have to wait a little longer to try my Xhaka – Xhaka – Xhaka midfield
Bring in the donkeys!
I think the midfield should be:
– Guenduozi: he was creating chances, made tackles, interceptions, passes, basically everything! that’s the mark of a great B2B midfielder
– Torreira: he is quick and gritty, always determined to win back possession. He should be the one that is positioned in front of 2 CBs. Also for all the quality Guenduozi has, he is slow. Pair him with Xhaka and you get two slow midfielders. Torreira somehow balances it out.
– Ceballos: he is the closest to a playmaker we’ve got. we need his through balls to our overlapping fullbacks.
By the way, I learnt Pepe has been Announced UEL player of the week…. Congrats to him, and he shouldn’t take his foot off the gas…. COYG!
Good news, good to hear AY75, anything that gives our players a little encouragement is fine by me.
I still remember how good our fans were away at Newc this season, that’s no mean feat being heard at that place when you need a goal, our fans were a 12th man on that day it was best away atmosphere I seen in a while.
Whoever plays, they need to let Palace know they are in the mood, if apprehensive Palace will act on that, any doubts will put the wind in Palace sails so from the off we need to see Arsenal scrapping for loose balls and being aggressive esp when we don’t have to be. This team sometimes encourages other teams by backing off and they smell a chance when we’re indecisive or nervous. Attack as a team defend as a team without that big gap in midfield and be aggressive, play a high line ..and get into Zaha ..don’t even let him turn, and we’ll be more than ok. Come on you Arsenal, don’t let us down.
B-o-t, exactly right; unlike other leagues if you don’t turn up and compete enthusiastically against any team in the EPL, you will not come away with a result.
……………..Leno
……….Chambers..Holding…………
Bellerin……………………Tierney
……….Torreira…..Xhaka
.Pepe…………Ceballos….Aubameyang
…………Lacazette
Auba on wing is/was usually most effective on left, with Monreal and Xhaka down his side. Tierney will enjoy playing with him and we have Saka, Willock, Martinelli and Guendouzi for impact, Guendouzi has started a lot of games, and his power could be a useful weapon to introduce with our wingers in later half.
Is it not midfield? ok Unai, as preferable to you,you can use The most intelligent player in our team who happens to be your captain Xhaka and kolasinac