Arsenal vs Valencia predicted starting XI: You ready yet?

Midfield

This is just another match where the midfield looks like it will be the primary theater that will determine the outcome of the match. With Valencia on the attack and Arsenal looking to counter, everything will have to go through this midfield and, as such, the more we can stop coming our way and turn to go back the other way, the better.

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That’s not an easy task though. I would love to lie through my teeth and say “just put in Granit Xhaka, he will establish control,” but that isn’t enough. Xhaka will start, and he will play a key role, but he needs this partnership to work perfectly and to understand the limitations that come with it. He won’t be able to keep control, so we just need him to do the best he can.

Next to him, I’ve been waffling between Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi all week. I would prefer Torreira, just because he is much more defensive-oriented, but he played the full 90 against Brighton and was thoroughly beat afterwards. Asking him to do the same here is a big ask. That’s why I think it will be Guendouzi who gets the start, even if that means switching them at half time, as Unai Emery has done in the past.

Whatever the case, whoever starts next to Xhaka is the piranha of the midfield, and will need to be snapping at the ball and safely feeding the outlets once they get it.

On to the front three.