West Ham vs Arsenal: 3 interesting selection calls to make

Does Nuno Tavares Keep His Place at Left-Back?

Neither Cedric nor Nuno had games they’ll have been pleased about against United, with the pair guilty of losing their men down their respective sides and Nuno in particular being horrendously sloppy in possession.

Arteta kept him in, despite a chaotic second half where he could easily have cost his side a goal, in a move that hints to his inclusion against West Ham.

He could decide to do something different, though. If Cedric keeps his place – the more reliable defensively of the Portuguese full-backs – there is scope for Tomiyasu to come back into the team in the left-back slot.

Exceptionally two-footed, the 23-year-old has played in the position before for previous side Bologna and operates as a left centre-back when he features for Japan. It’s somewhere he’s comfortable, and him moving there would give Cedric freedom to play further up the pitch.

Due to West Ham’s glaring selection problems in central defence there is every chance that they shift to a back three, and bringing Tomiyasu into left-back would allow Arsenal to effectively match their opponents’ shape, something he could just as easily do on the opposite side.

It’s not totally out of the question, especially after Nuno’s most recent showing, but it would be a surprise.

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