Arsenal vs BATE Borisov predicted starting XI: Denis Suarez, right?

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 19: Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal gives his team instructions during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC at Emirates Stadium on January 19, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 19: Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal gives his team instructions during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC at Emirates Stadium on January 19, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
Arsenal, Sead Kolasinac
(Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

Wingbacks

Suddenly our most vital position and the only reason why I think that Unai Emery has to go with this set-up, because thus far into the new year, there have been no indications that we can rely on chance creation from any other position, not even from our creative midfielders, unless something changes up there, but more on that later.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

There shouldn’t be any surprises here. Sead Kolasinac and Ainsley Maitland-Niles accounted for five of the measly seven chances created against Huddersfield, and if you cut them out, or ask them to play a more defensive role as straight fullbacks, you run the risk of losing that chance creation avenue that has proven so reliable.

Strange as it may be, these two are our best chance of building a sustainable lead to take into next week, with the hopes that we can pump the breaks next week and take it easy, giving some crucial players a break ahead of more Premier League fixtures.

Of course, the risk is that both have had injury problems this year, and thus we have to be aware that they are still kind of on short rest, so if ever there was a deterrent not to use wingbacks, that would be it.

Still, not enough of a deterrent to try something else.

Moving on to the midfield two.