Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs West Ham United: Predicted starting XI – The Mikel Arteta pecking order

By Andrew Dowdeswell

4 venue choices as Arsenal are forced to cancel Greece plans for Europa League round of 32 tie with Benfica (Photo by Harriet Lander/Copa/Getty Images)
4 venue choices as Arsenal are forced to cancel Greece plans for Europa League round of 32 tie with Benfica (Photo by Harriet Lander/Copa/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Shkodran Mustafi
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 23: Shkodran Mustafi of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on February 23, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

Centre-Backs

While Arsenal do not have many convincing centre-backs in the squad, if any, Mikel Arteta has improved those that are there, so much so that the Gunners now feature an improving starting pair that has started the last five Premier League matches and both legs against Olympiakos in the Europa League.

That pair consists of David Luiz and Shkodran Mustafi. Both have committed mistakes throughout their careers, and in the Arteta era, and both still look capable of those mind-numbing errors still, but their shared athleticism, aggressive decision-making and comfort in possession make them a complementary central defensive pair that Arteta is beginning to rely upon.

Pablo Mari made his first start in Monday’s 2-0 win over Portsmouth in the FA Cup and looked awesome. He might not be ready to start in the Premier League, though Arteta will be sure to use his presence as a motivating stick for Mustafi and Luiz. Their starting roles are no longer confirmed.