Arsenal vs Qarabag FK: Predicted starting XI

Arsenal may not have the biggest test ahead against Qarabag, but they will still need all hands on deck. Here are how they should line up.

Arsenal have a good deal of personnel questions to answer in the upcoming match against Qarabag, with several absences and some key health questions at positions that are in need of some shake-ups anyway. But more on that later.

The Gunners have won seven in a row after dropping the first two matches of the season, and they are rolling, winning easy and ugly games alike. It’s the test that Wenger had trouble passing (among others), that tricky ugly match and how to take full points even when you don’t necessarily deserve it.

Qarabag, ideally, won’t be an ugly match. Vorskla was an easy match to handle, even if they did sneak two in thumping goals late on to narrow the lead to 4-2 rather than 4-0, but overall, it wasn’t a stressful match.

Qarabag may well be more of the same, even if the match isn’t at the Emirates. Home and away matches haven’t been so starkly opposite this year either. Just another positive sign of what’s to come going forward.

Anyway, let’s talk about how the Gunners could line up in this one, addressing all the questions along the way, starting with the first question, right here in goal.

Keeper

Bernd Leno should be given the green light here. The only potential wrench in that concept is if Unai Emery goes to Emi Martinez as the current No. 2 in the wake of Petr Cech’s absence, but I’m not sure that’s the best plan of attack here (or defense, rather).

Leno wants playing time and he should be given all he wants as he tries to solidify himself as the No. 1 keeper, even with the looming return of Cech in another two weeks or so.

Leno is going to want to keep his first clean sheet (while starting) and this is an excellent opportunity to do so, with his full Premier League debut looming against Fulham at the weekend.

On to more questions at fullback.