Arsenal vs Qarabag predicted starting XI: Youth rules… right?

Centerback

If you look at Whoscored.com‘s preview of this match, they are predicting that Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis will start side-by-side in this one, seeing as how they are both suspended for the Southampton match.

I will throw something if that is what Unai Emery opts to do.

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The point of this match is to take a breather before the December fixture list picks up, while still trusting your side enough to keep the unbeaten run going.

That said, this is Qarabag, and we have already put out three players, one of which is incredibly trustworthy, and two of which are more trustworthy than not, so it doesn’t make sense to send out Mustafi so soon after he limped off the pitch with a hamstring injury.

Laurent Koscielny‘s name has also been tossed around as a potential starter for the first time this season, and I’m not a fan of that either, as I’d rather save him for the Southampton match when he will actually be needed.

Let’s start with what better happen – Zech Medley starting. We need to get a prolonged look at his abilities to see if he can help out in the mush of December fixtures.

Who starts next to him? Well, I’m just delaying, as I’m debating between Sokratis and Koscielny. I like the idea of pairing Medley with one or the other – Koscielny if he only plays 45 minutes and Sokratis if not. Who will I go for…. let me flip a coin.

Koscielny. Let’s say Koscielny. (I didn’t actually flip a coin.)

Onward to the midfield.