Unai Emery has several defensive options at his disposal for Arsenal's Premier League trip to Manchester United on Monday night.
Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding and Kieran Tierney all made their long-awaited returns from injury in Tuesday’s comfortable EFL Cup win over Nottingham Forest.
The Spaniard hinted Monday may come too soon for Bellerin to play 90 minutes at such a difficult venue and if taken at his word, he must choose whether to persist with Calum Chambers - who impressed against Forest - or restore Ainsley Maitland-Niles at right-back.
Emery has favoured a midfield diamond in their last two Premier League away games – a 3-1 defeat at Liverpool and a 2-2 draw at Watford – and may do so again given the Gunners’ poor record at Old Trafford, where they have not won in the League since 2006.
Granit Xhaka may be the focus of fans’ frustration at the moment but his place seems certain, as is Matteo Guendouzi with Lucas Torreira and Joe Willock vying for one spot given Dani Ceballos is Emery’s preferred number 10 in this system.
A three-man defence or a more conventional 4-2-3-1 are possible alternatives but either way Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will spearhead the attack, looking to extend his run of six goals in six League games.
Arsenal predicted lineup (4-1-2-1-2): Leno, Chambers, Sokratis, David Luiz, Tierney; Xhaka, Guendouzi, Willock; Cebellos; Aubameyang, Pepe
