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Football London
Football London
Sport
James Benge

Holding, Mustafi and Aubameyang to start against Eintracht Frankfurt - Arsenal's predicted XI

Arsenal begin their Europa League journey on Thursday evening looking to go one better than last term.

They travel to Germany to take on Eintracht Frankfurt in their opening group game, a game which could certainly pose a tough test.

Unai Emery's side will be hoping bounce back from the disappointment of last weekend, when they let a two-goal lead slip against Watford, leading them to come away with nothing more than a 2-2 draw.

It may only be one game, but the supporters will no doubt be hoping to see their side get back to winning ways.

But who is expected to feature for Unai Emery's side? Here's how James Benge expects the Gunners to line up.

Emery is likely to supplement what promises to be a youthful team with several experienced players to ensure that the Gunners get their Europa League campaign off to a solid start. With Alexandre Lacazette sidelined it seems likely that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will lead the line against a side he scored eight goals past in 11 appearances for Borussia Dortmund.

Lucas Torreira and Joe Willock, substitutes in Sunday's 2-2 draw at Watford, could also come in but it is at the back where Emery faces his most intriguing selection decisions.

It will be a struggle to rest both full-backs with Kieran Tierney and Hector Bellerin still sidelined but Emery will at least be able to withdraw centre-backs Sokratis Papastathopoulos and David Luiz out of the firing line, should he so choose, after their errors cost the Gunners a victory at Vicarage Road.

Indeed Emery hinted that Rob Holding could make his comeback from nine months on the sidelines with a knee injury, saying before the Watford game: "It's a possibility that in the next week he could play with us."

Unai Emery and Sead Kolasinac preview Eintracht Frankfurt match

Emery also has Calum Chambers and Shkodran Mustafi available to him and might choose to use the latter at right-back, allowing Maitland-Niles his first rest of the season.

Emiliano Martinez is expected to start in goal having been offered guarantees over his status as cup goalkeeper.

Predicted Arsenal XI: Martinez; Mustafi, Chambers, Holding, Kolasinac; Guendouzi, Torreira, Willock; Pepe, Aubameyang, Nelson

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