Arsenal vs Crystal Palace Predicted XI: Stop the plague

Fullbacks

It is with a heavy heart that I remind you that both Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney played 90 minutes against Vitoria. And it is with a heavier hear that I point out that, if after two weeks of no football, Unai Emery was unwilling to make defensive changes, I can’t imagine that after two days of rest, he is willing to ask for another 90 minutes from the two deserving fullbacks.

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So instead, expect to see Calum Chambers again, who deserves every minute he gets, even if it should be at centerback, and Sead Kolasinac, who I am quite fond of, but who just isn’t better than Kieran Tierney.

If this is the hill that Unai Emery is willing to die on, then I hope he’s got another job lined up. Of course, I am so, so open to being surprised here. I am so ready to be proven wrong, to see Bellerin and Tierney and the rest of the should-be’s in the starting XI. But then I’d have to dwell on the risk of injury, since they are all still fresh off returns.

Maybe Emery is just prioritizing the Europa League. Not exactly something I would recommend this early in the season, but hey, this is his team now.

Centerbacks are next. If you weren’t pulling your hair out yet, get ready to be.