Arsenal vs Cardiff City predicted starting XI: Mesut Ozil returns?

Centerbacks

As I typed that ‘s’ on centerbacks, I was still asking myself, “back three or back four?” It’s that hard to make the decision. You’d think that, in the absence of many options, a back four would be the safer choice, since the personnel is so thin, but I actually think Emery will revert to the back three with the hopes of playing more towards the strengths of the players he does have.

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That said, the central pivot of the back three will have to be Shkodran Mustafi, since he is suddenly the senior, most reliable centerback on the club. Scary though, I know, but Mustafi is capable of surprises and he is even more capable of them in matches where a lot is riding on his ability.

On his left side, I would hope to see Konstantinos Mavropanos, rather than whatever other options Emery might be confusing up. The young Greek can be a solution if he is allowed to be, and if ever there is a time for it, it is now.

And on the right? Stephan Lichtsteiner is the best possible option. I know people have been quick to label him a flop, but he just needs to be used more to his strengths, where he is perfectly adequate. This is one such time where his strengths are needed.

Let’s move on to the wingbacks.