Crunch time comes in the form of a Europa League semi final second leg in Southeast Spain as Unai Emery's men face Valencia in what is yet another season defining game. With a 3-1 advantage in the bag from last week's first leg, the Gunners know that progress here is the only thing that keeps dreams of a spot in next season's Champions League alive.
With Valencia kicking off proceedings last week with a valuable away goal, it makes this second leg a little more tricky for Unai Emery as starting shape and personnel could be pivotal in the outcome of the tie. Our Spanish hosts aren't renowned for scoring bags of goals but actually, they don't concede many either, especially at home. Only really will a back three with wing backs work here as Valencia will be looking for another fast start. Rigidity and dynamism in a back three (which can become a five) with two in front is both the best way to shape up and be defensively organised but also to spring a counter going forward. Emery and his 21-man squad travelled to Spain earlier today and with no real surprises in the squad, his starting XI is likely to be more of what we've seen of late.
Petr Cech will come back into the starting XI for Bernd Leno whilst Ainsley Maitland-Niles is available again after domestic suspension at the weekend. Laurent Koscielny was well rested against Brighton so he too is almost certain to come back into the starting XI. Sead Kolasinac came off the bench at the weekend but with Nacho Monreal likely to fill the left sided centre back role, the Bosnian should come back in as well. There are more questions to be asked in central midfield as last week's poor start was down to a lack of game management and control that starts in midfield. It was all over the place in the opening period and whilst Torreira sat on the bench, Guendouzi and Xhaka took a while to get going. Xhaka also had a nightmare at the weekend, with another silly foul which lead to a Brighton penalty. So with so much at stake, Emery could go with any pairing of Torreira, Xhaka and Guendouzi, and there's justification for every combination.
With nothing to play for in the league now and it all relying on progress in Spain, Emery has to play Aubameyang and Lacazette. They are so much more dangerous as a pair and with Ozil in behind (although it doesn't work every game) they can be deadly. Last Thursday in London was a prime example of the trio's link up and the finishing prowess of our two strikers. More of the same tomorrow, please.
After a thumping 6-2 win over the weekend in La Liga, Valencia will enter tomorrow's second leg confident. They'll have seen the deject and disappointment all over Arsenal faces on Sunday afternoon and will be looking to add to it come kick off. They'll be hungry and in their own back yard will fancy it too. Keeping Arsenal out will be tough, especially if Lacazette and Aubameyang are in the same mood as last week but should they do it, one first half goal will have Emery and his players rattled. However, a goal from Arsenal really puts the tie on the line as the Spaniards will have it all to do. Upfront, the Spaniards are dangerous with some real talent, and although the likes of Rodrigo and Guedes failed to get going last week, it surely won't happen again. From set pieces, the hosts will fancy themselves to cause some havoc, and just like last week...havoc leads to mayhem and mayhem leads to goals.
Expected lineup:
GK: Petr Cech
CB: Sokratis
CB: Laurent Koscielny
CB: Nacho Monreal
RWB: Ainsley Maitland-Niles
CM: Lucas Torreira
CM: Granit Xhaka
LWB: Sead Kolasinac
CAM: Mesut Ozil
ST: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
ST: Alex Lacazette
Prediction: Arsenal to progress and win on the night.
@craigbennett10
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