Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal vs Manchester United: 5 key players in lynchpin match

By Josh Sippie

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Matteo Guendouzi of Arsenal in action during the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 Second Leg match between Arsenal and BATE Borisov at Emirates Stadium on February 21, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Matteo Guendouzi of Arsenal in action during the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 Second Leg match between Arsenal and BATE Borisov at Emirates Stadium on February 21, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Sead Kolasinac
(Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

4. Sead Kolasinac

Everything I said in the previous slide is now about to sound like it’s being reversed. For as much defending as this club is going to have to do, they are going to have to do three times the attack, which is why Sead Kolasinac is so important – because he is a defender who can compound on a clicking attack, or be the attack center himself.

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The thing is, United attack really well from the wings, as much as I hate to admit it. Kolasinac is going to have to do more than his usual share, depending on how Unai Emery decides to line up. There might be the smallest of chances that he liberates Kolasinac with a back three, but it’s more likely that the Bosnian will have to play fullback.

We saw against Rennes how awful it can be when a fullback is outmatched. The entire second half, Nacho Monreal was outmatched and it was a constant font of stress. Kolasinac will have to mitigate that stress while providing United with plenty of stress of their own.

He should have Alex Iwobi to help him out on that side though, which is always a great thing to count on.

On to No. 3.

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