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Home   >   Opinions   >   [Image] Arsenal’s best 4-2-3-1 line-up to face Watford: Ceballos to start, no Xhaka

[Image] Arsenal’s best 4-2-3-1 line-up to face Watford: Ceballos to start, no Xhaka

By on September 14, 2019

dani ceballos arsenal

Arsenal desperately need to come away with all three points when we take on Watford at Vicarage Road on Sunday afternoon. This is the line-up I’d like Unai Emery to select…

Goalkeeper: Leno

Martinez has been making noises in the press that he’s ready to take the No.1 shirt but I still see Leno as the clear first choice so he should keep his place tomorrow.

Defence: Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasinac

Holding played for the U23s last night so he won’t be involved with the first team just yet as he continues to build-up his fitness following nine months out. It means David Luiz should continue alongside Sokratis as Mustafi just isn’t a viable option.

Bellerin and Tierney are both back in full training but they’re going to need some time before being ready for first team action. Maitland-Niles should therefore continue at right-back and with Monreal off to Spain, Kolasinac will be our left-back until Tierney is ready.

Midfield: Torreira, Guendouzi, Ceballos

Xhaka has been woeful this season and showed once again why he shouldn’t be a regular with a ridiculous foul in the box to gift Spurs a penalty in the NLD. No doubt Emery will stick with him but I’d love to see Xhaka dropped as I think he’s nothing but a liability these days. For me, Torreira should be starting in the holding role in front of the Arsenal defence as he’s far more capable of protecting the back four than Xhaka is.

It’s a close call between Willock and Guendouzi as both youngsters have been impressive this season but I think Matteo just edges it. I really hope Ceballos starts tomorrow as he’s a huge talent who gets the team moving forward so I’d go with him alongside Guendouzi and Torreira against Watford.

Attack: Pepe, Nelson, Aubameyang

Unfortunately, Lacazette has been ruled out for several weeks with an ankle injury that’s troubled him all season so it’s going to be interesting to see how Emery lines-up during the Frenchman’s absence.

The good news is Aubameyang should now get a prolonged run up front again and he’ll be under pressure to provide the goals but with Iwobi and Mkhitaryan both departed, we suddenly look a little short of wide options.

Obviously Pepe should start and I’m excited to see how he develops over the coming weeks as I think he’s going to be a massive addition to the team but who will start on the other flank?

Ozil could be an option but I don’t see him starting in a tough away game. Some have suggested Ceballos could play out wide but I think he’s far more influential through the middle so the clear choice is to give Nelson a start.

Pepe’s favoured position is on the right wing and although Nelson can play from the left, we may be more balanced if he starts from the right with Pepe on the left. However, they could easily swap flanks throughout the game.

This is the starting eleven I hope we’ll see from Arsenal:

football formations

Personally, I think that’s Arsenal’s best available eleven but no doubt Xhaka will worm his way into the side. Either way, I just hope we come away with three points as with all our main rivals winning today, Arsenal are under pressure to beat Watford on Sunday.