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

Midfield

This is where things can get a bit questionable, simply because I do think that Unai Emery is trying to get Granit Xhaka back in there soon, as his control is absolutely missed, and I don’t care what anyone else has to say about that.

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That said, Xhaka only returning to training at the end of last week, and the risk of getting him (and Sokratis) back out there just a week later doesn’t seem to amount to as much of a reward, seeing as how there is actually enough depth to get around this.

Meaning that we should be seeing the usual duo in there – Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira. The young duo didn’t look like such a great pairing at the start of the year, but in the wake of Xhaka’s injury (and before Xhaka returns) they’ve proven to be steady enough, though the lack of control and the often frantic nature of their partnership could go for some bolstering.

That said, Guendouzi is improving every time he takes the pitch and Torreira is too, so the longer they have to figure each other out, the better.

Front three is next.