Arsenal vs FC Vorskla: Predicted starting XI – Bernd Leno time!

Centerbacks

There is a massive gulf between the starting two centerbacks of Mustafi and Sokratis, and their most immediate competitors. Why Unai Emery and the club sought to establish this gulf by shipping off Calum Chambers is still something that baffles me, but in the meantime, we have but two options to fill in at centerback too.

Those two are Konstantinos Mavropanos and Rob Holding. Both of whom have shown flashes of promise, neither of whom is ready for the daily grind of life in the Premier League. But, if they were to be ready, this would be the time to prove it.

Holding got off to a rip-roaring start to his Arsenal career and has shown bursts of quality since, but consistency has been lacking. Still, the hopes are high (clearly higher now, with Chambers gone) that he can challenge for a starting role. Here’s his chance.

Same goes for Mavropanos. He was a thrill and a half to watch last season because of the way that he played and I would love to see him come out and demonstratively announce that he isn’t going to fade like Holding did after Holding’s initial burst. Time will tell.

On to the deep midfield pairing.