Arsenal vs FC Vorskla: Predicted starting XI with weekend looming

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Rob Holding of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on September 23, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Rob Holding of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on September 23, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
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Arsenal may be looking for an easy pass against FC Vorskla, but they’ll still have to take care of business. Here is how they may line up to do that.

The December fixture list is looming, and Arsenal are suffering from a slew of prodding injury problems that are really going to test just how much faith Unai Emery has in his young players.

This upcoming match against FC Vorskla is a match that you’d expect the Gunners to roll through with relative ease, but with Tottenham at the weekend, and with the injury problems that we already saw against Bournemouth, we have to consider the severe rotation that Emery will put in to play to ensure that all those that will need to be in top physical form for the weekend, will be.

Thus far, we know that Nacho Monreal is out for another week or so. We know that Mavropanos suffered a bit of a set-back, which is a shame, because this would have been prime territory for him. And we know that Laurent Koscielny, while back, probably isn’t ready for a start with the senior team, even though it would be a welcome reprieve for this defense.

As such, there is going to be a lot of speculation with predicting this starting XI, as not a lot is sure. I would imagine there will be a lot of youngsters populating the team sheet, but in what capacity and in what formation, it’s hard to say.

Anyway, let’s get started in goal.

Keeper

No surprises here. Petr Cech will hold down his job as the midweek fixture keeper. After suffering an injury and seeing his job plucked from him by Bernd Leno, the veteran shot-stopper can still assert his claim to the No. 1 job by putting in positive efforts in these matches.

You wouldn’t expect too much pressure to come from a side like Vorskla, but given that we are going to be on their home territory, there is going to be a threat, and Cech is going to have to be up to it.

As we move on, let it be said that I am predicting a 4-2-3-1 formation, despite the use of the 3-4-3 against Bournemouth. So let’s get on to the fullbacks.