Arsenal vs Sporting CP: Predicted starting XI for eleventh

Arsenal shift into their toughest Europa League fixture of the group stages. Here is the team that will likely be sent out there to make it eleven in a row.

Arsenal will be looking for their unprecedented eleventh straight win in all competitions, but it will have to come in their toughest match in this Europa League group stage. They will be traveling to Portugal to take on Sporting CP who, despite struggling domestically thus far – they sit fifth in the table – have yet to lose at home.

And they have, as of yet, not lost in the Europa League, same as our Gunners. So, despite the high confidence of the visitors, it will be a test to keep Sporting at bay, especially with a rotational squad that, while certainly strong enough to do the job, won’t want to suffer a lackluster first half, as has been the trend.

The Gunners have handfuls of injuries to deal with, particularly on the defensive side, where things are dicey enough as is, and it showed already with the appearance of Zech Medley on the Arsenal bench against Leicester City. They have slim pickings on the defensive side.

Which means there will surely be questioned asked, and this defense, no matter who that involves, will have to answer those questions. And, likewise, so too will the keeper. So let’s get into this predicted starting XI, starting with the keeper.

Keeper

Many people are starting to feel like Emi Martinez deserves his shot at making an impression, and that shot may come in the League or FA Cup, but it almost certainly won’t come against Sporting CP. There is talk that Petr Cech may be ready to make his return and, if that’s the case, he should be starting here, but, most likely, it will be Bernd Leno who is between the sticks again.

The German keeper has been fantastic with the starting role and I truly, truly hope that Unai Emery doesn’t intend to switch things up at all when Cech returns. Let Cech fight for his spot in the Europa League if need be, but let Leno keep doing what he’s doing.

Let’s talk fullbacks, where the questions really are.