Arsenal Vs West Ham United: Predicted starting XI – Injuries no more

Central Midfield

The reason that Unai Emery has the freedom to play with a back four is because he has two strikers to squeeze into the same team, which is more difficult to do with a back three, as well as a central-midfield trio that offers the control in possession, protection in defence, and balance in style that he craves.

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That trio is Lucas Torreira, Granit Xhaka and Matteo Guendouzi. It is a very nicely balanced midfield that offers the scrappiness and industry of Torreira and finesse and passing ranges of both Xhaka and Guendouzi.

Emery likes his team to dominate the possession. He wants them to command the game in the midfield, dictating play and creating chances with fast-moving but controlled passing plays. This is the midfield personnel that offers him the best opportunity to do that thanks to the passing quality of Guendouzi and Xhaka.

As stated previously, there is a chance that Emery selects a 3-5-2 or 3-4-3. If so, that would likely see Guendouzi drop to the bench and Nacho Monreal come in at centre-half. However, with Monreal still reacclimating to playing and Emery’s commitment to the back four, I predict that Guendouzi will indeed get the nod.