Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Crystal Palace: Predicted starting XI – Mikel Arteta’s pecking order forms

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 06: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal reacts during the FA Cup Third Round match between Arsenal FC and Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium on January 06, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 06: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal reacts during the FA Cup Third Round match between Arsenal FC and Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium on January 06, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 01: Anthony Martial of Manchester United gets away from Lucas Torreira of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on January 01, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 01: Anthony Martial of Manchester United gets away from Lucas Torreira of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on January 01, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /

Central Midfield

There might not have been a position in the squad that Unai Emery mismanaged more than central midfield. From alienating his most talented player to allowing his most effective player to leave for nothing, to misusing his best defensive midfielder and exploiting another in that very position, Emery really made a mess of the central midfield.

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Given Pep Guardiola’s mastery of central midfield throughout his playing and managerial career, it is not surprising that his former assistant has set about fixing this position as quickly and effectively as possible. And in only a matter of weeks, not only as Mikel Arteta significantly improved Arsenal’s control of matches in central midfield; he has established a pecking order.

Lucas Torreira is now the starting defensive midfielder. He was rested against Leeds United and will return to the starting XI. Mesut Ozil was not rested against Leeds United, but he will also start after showing commitment aplenty to adapt to Arteta’s high-pressing system.

The third midfield position is a toss-up between Matteo Guendouzi and Granit Xhaka. Guendouzi is the superior player, but Arteta has heralded Xhaka’s qualities already and has seen the Swiss international perform well in two of his three starts. Xhaka should start again, but the pressure is rising.