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4-2-3-1 – Torreira & Leno start, Xhaka axed: Arsenal’s best line-up to face Everton

By on September 22, 2018

Arsenal get back to Premier League action when we take on Everton at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon. This is the line-up I’d like Unai Emery to select…

Goalkeeper: Leno

Our summer signing was handed his debut on Thursday night and will have been disappointed to concede the two late goals. He could have done very little about either as both were excellent strikes but he looked far more confident playing out from the back than Petr Cech does. I’ve been calling for Bernd Leno to be handed the first team shirt for weeks so I’d like to see him keep his place. But the reality is Emery will go with Cech tomorrow.

Defence: Bellerin, Sokratis, Mustafi, Monreal

Sead Kolasinac was spotted in training on Friday but this game will come too soon for him so Nacho Monreal will continue at left-back while Hector Bellerin should be recalled at right-back in place of Stephan Lichtsteiner.

Laurent Koscielny has stepped up his recovery from an Achilles injury by starting ball work in training but he’s still several weeks away from being available for selection so we’ll have to stick with Shkodran Mustafi alongside the ever-impressive Sokratis.

Midfield: Torreira, Ramsey

Lucas Torreira made his full debut in midweek and was bossing the midfield until he was forced off with a knee problem. I think it’s clear by now he should be starting every game so as long as he’s passed fit, I’d love to see him starting his first Premier League match tomorrow afternoon.

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Matteo Guendouzi has enjoyed an excellent start to life at Arsenal following his summer move but for me he’s still not ready to be a first team regular so I’d bring in Torreira for the French youngster.

No doubt Emery will probably stick with Guendouzi tomorrow while Granit Xhaka is expected to be recalled but I’d love to see Aaron Ramsey playing a little depper alongside Torreira. The Welshman has been playing higher up the pitch this season but I think he’s much more influential as a box-to-box midfielder.

Attack: Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette

Playing Ramsey deeper would also allow us to deploy Mesut Ozil in his best position. He’s been playing on the wing recently but there’s no doubt he’s more influential in the number 10 role so let’s play to his strengths.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan was superb against Vorskla but he’s a doubt to face Everton due to an ankle injury. If fit, I’d start him on the right wing otherwise I’d go with Alex Iwobi or Danny Welbeck.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang bagged two lovely goals in midweek and I do prefer him through the middle but we have to get Alexandre Lacazette in the starting eleven so Auba may have to move out to the wing tomorrow.

Here is the side I hope we’ll see:

In reality, I think we’ll see Emery going with Cech, Bellerin, Mustafi, Sokratis, Monreal, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Ozil, Ramsey, Aubameyang, Lacazette.