Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Watford: Predicted starting XI – The muddled midfield

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 28: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal in action during the Emirates Cup match between Arsenal and Olympique Lyonnais at the Emirates Stadium on July 28, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 28: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal in action during the Emirates Cup match between Arsenal and Olympique Lyonnais at the Emirates Stadium on July 28, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 01: Dani Ceballos of Arsenal shoots past Moussa Sissoko of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on September 01, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 01: Dani Ceballos of Arsenal shoots past Moussa Sissoko of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on September 01, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /

Central Midfield

This is where Unai Emery’s options really open up. With Alexandre Lacazette’s recent injury news set to keep him on the sidelines until mid-October, there is a chance that Emery could veer away from the 4-3-3 shape that he has predominantly employed this season. However, I still predict that he will choose system of personnel.

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That means three central midfielders. For the first time in a long time, Arsenal have a lot of options in central midfield. Joe Willock has been excellent in his first season as a genuine first-team option, Lucas Torreira is still returning to full fitness after picking up a muscular problem during the international break, while Mesut Ozil is yet to play a minute this season.

However, Emery, I believe does have three favourites: Granit Xhaka as the deepest-lying midfielder, Matteo Guendouzi to his left, in a box-to-box, orchestrating role, and Dani Ceballos off towards the right, though with the greatest freedom to push forwards.

Is this Arsenal’s best midfield three? No. Is this the midfield three that I — or most fans, for that matter — would play on Sunday? Again, probably not. But this is the trio that I believe Emery, right or wrong, has the most faith in. And so, they will start at the weekend.