Arsenal vs Blackpool: Predicted starting XI in Round of 16

Wingbacks

I’m sorry that I have to keep saying this, but with all the injuries, it’s really hard to predict what Emery will do here. I figured that he would go with wingbacks and hope to overpower the attack and build a substantial lead such that his centerbacks won’t have to do much work. So, with that in mind, I see the two wingbacks as a newly-fit Ainsley Maitland-Niles and the wandering Matteo Guendouzi.

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Both are athletic enough to do what the role asks of them, and they’ll essentially just be playing central midfield roles, which is what they’re used to anyway.

Of course, Maitland-Niles is the question mark. He has only just returned for the U-23s and is “rusty” so it might be a stretch to think that he can be fit enough to give us at least an hour or so of good hearty play against Blackpool.

I have faith though. If not him, then maybe another youth product can make the grade, I just hope that Granit Xhaka isn’t called upon, because he is really going to be needed against Liverpool.

If Kolasinac and Monreal are both sure to be fit, then Kolasinac could see the start here, but you don’t want to use one here and ask him to be ready to go again against a rampaging Liverpool. Not to mention that you really need to give Lichtsteiner a rest in case Bellerin can’t be ready for the weekend either.

Like I said, it’s a tough call. Let’s get into the easier stuff in the midfield.