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Arsenal Vs Wolves: Predicted starting XI – Unai Emery close to best XI

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 08: Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal signals during the UEFA Europa League Group E match between Arsenal and Sporting CP at Emirates Stadium on November 8, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 08: Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal signals during the UEFA Europa League Group E match between Arsenal and Sporting CP at Emirates Stadium on November 8, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 08: Abdoulay Diaby of Sporting CP is blocked by Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Rob Holding of Arsenal during the UEFA Europa League Group E match between Arsenal and Sporting CP at Emirates Stadium on November 8, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 08: Abdoulay Diaby of Sporting CP is blocked by Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Rob Holding of Arsenal during the UEFA Europa League Group E match between Arsenal and Sporting CP at Emirates Stadium on November 8, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /

Centre-Backs

Sokratis continued his slow return from injury on Thursday, playing the full 90 minutes against Sporting CP, impressing in the process. The Greek international is the best available centre-half, but it remains to be seen whether Unai Emery trusts his fitness yet.

I feel that Sokratis will now be entrusted with a starting role in the Premier League once more. It is an international break after this weekend and Emery may use that to his advantage, starting Sokratis twice in four days. His partner on Thursday was Rob Holding, who is enjoying perhaps the best season of his young career.

However, the fact that Holding played, and that Shkodran Mustafi didn’t, suggests to me that the latter will start against Wolves. Holding may feel hard-done-by to be dropped after some promising performances, but, for now, Mustafi and Sokratis is the best pairing.