Arsenal vs Valencia predicted starting XI: You ready yet?

Back Three

Here’s the thing about the defense. Unai Emery has been very selective in not exhausting his necessary players. He’s subbed off players when they need it and benched them altogether in Laurent Koscielny‘s case.

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So, needless to say that Koscielny will get the start in the center of the back three here, and on him I rest all our hopes and dreams, because I really don’t believe in anyone else to handle them without a little slippage and breakage.

On either side of him, I think we see Shkodran Mustafi on the right and Sokratis getting the odd start on the left. Normally I would predict Nacho Monreal on the left side, but he played the entire 90 against Brighton, presumably in an effort to preserve Sead Kolasinac, but that leaves Monreal severely lacking in match fitness and, at his age, you can’t do that much.

Plus, Mustafi has actually been quite decent lately, and I know that this is such an obvious trap to walk in to, but right now, I like the idea of Mustafi starting more than I do Monreal. And I really hope I don’t regret saying that come Friday.

Let’s talk wingbacks.