Arsenal: Does Unai Emery know his best starting XI?

Eight games into the league, and sitting a surprising fourth on the table, manager Unai Emery still does not know his best Arsenal XI. With competition at center back, questions at the heart of the Arsenal attack, and a committee at right wing, it could be argued that at least three first-team positions are still up for grabs.

For the record, I believe that Arsenal‘s lack of a declared starter at the number nine position is not a problem, but a feature.

Unai Emery has submitted the same team sheet twice, following up a win at Cardiff City with the same group against Newcastle. The other six matches have seen numerous changes. Some have been tactical, such as the necessary progression of Granit Xhaka to Matteo Guendouzi to Lucas Torreira in the defensive midfield role.

Others appear more of an effort by Emery, like his predecessor, to simply get his best players on the pitch. All of this is to be expected: with only one transfer window, and a large squad from the previous regime, Emery needs time to assess his options.

Then there are injuries. Prior to advances in nutrition and sports science, it was said that players did not lose their place due to injury. Today, however, Petr Cech has it all to do if he is to supplant Bernd Leno in goal. As an aging viewer, I find Leno’s comfort on the ball calming. And we are clearly more adept at building from the back with his ball skills.

But what about new summer signing Sokratis? He began on the left, partnered with Shkodran Mustafi, in trials-by-fire against Man City and Chelsea. Then in the Europa League, he found himself on the right, paired with Rob Holding, and performed well. Now nursing an injury, how does his return affect the partnership of Mustafi and Holding? Does he return to the Left with Mustafi; replace Mustafi on the right; remain on the bench?

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Credit to Rob Holding for forcing the conversation.

I have always been a believer in the “Center back Partnership.” Teams that win titles have continuity at the back. Skills start as habits, and like all habits, establishing a partnership takes time because each player is unique in how they communicate their intentions, in how they attack the ball, how they reset their lines. Of course, this is a problem that predates Emery; let’s see how patient he is about the process. For me, the best Arsenal XI starts with Leno and Torreira sandwiching a strong center back pairing, even if those center backs are already in the side.

The final two openings in the first-team Arsenal XI both reside in midfield. The first, at number 10, is a discussion which shows no signs of slowing. Play makers are challenged to produce and Aaron Ramsey has answered with a team-leading three assists. But the “eye test” reports Arsenal are missing certain intangibles only possessed by masters of their craft. Our goals have resulted more from on-form strikers and better fitness levels than creative midfield play. That we were more fluid as a 4-4-2 against Fulham solidifies the argument: we need more ideas.

Whither width? Assuming competition at center back will either help the side or usher in change, and hoping we can fill the creative midfield role from within, the last opening in the best Arsenal XI is at Right Winger. While Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have produced, both are out of place. We need natural width, which requires a natural winger. Both Ozil and Mkhitaryan can be the number 10, but are either the right winger Arsenal need? The hope is that Emery recognizes width as an issue to be addressed in the coming transfer windows.

Arsenal have three legitimate concerns at three important positions, and it appears two of the three can be sorted from within. If you were Unai Emery, which decision would be hardest for you? Would you change the formation? Would you go Window Shopping? Do you know our best Arsenal XI?