After being forced to make do and mend with his midfield in recent matches Unai Emery faces a different dilemma when Arsenal welcome Napoli to the Emirates Stadium this evening.
Lucas Torreira, Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey are all available to start from the off in what the Arsenal head coach has termed a "must-win" tie, meaning the midfield pivot of Mohamed Elneny and Matteo Guendouzi that so struggled in Sunday's defeat at Everton is unlikely to be revived.
Elneny and Guendouzi may not be the only players to pay the price for failing to perform at Goodison Park. Mesut Ozil, captain on the day, was replaced by Alex Iwobi in the second half after a display that may well have crystallised the doubts Emery has over the German's ability to perform in the biggest games.
The Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang problem Unai Emery's happy to have for now
Emery was particularly defensive when questioned about Ozil, who appeared to throw his coat at Everton boss Marco Silva, and visibly bristled as he said: "When I decided he’s going to play, some journalists asked me 'why?'
"And when I sometimes decide he’s not playing they ask me 'why is he not playing?'"
Further forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's course of antibiotics appears to have been completed and, having featured as a substitute in the last two games, he is expected to return to the starting line-up, potentially to revive his tandem with Alexandre Lacazette.
Ramsey could be the one tasked with providing creativity and drive in behind the front two, confining Ozil to the bench.
Every word Arsenal's Unai Emery and Alexandre Lacazette just said on Napoli, Aubameyang and Ozil
Club captain Laurent Koscielny looks likely to be available after returning to training following his bruised foot. If he is available Shkodran Mustafi is expected to drop to the bench.
Goalkeeper Petr Cech may be making his last start at the Emirates Stadium before he retires at the end of the season - Bernd Leno is established as Emery's No.1 in the Premier League - but the 36-year-old is desperate to bow out with silverware in the Europa League final next month.
Arsenal predicted XI (3-4-1-2): Cech; Sokratis, Koscielny, Monreal; Maitland-Niles, Torreira, Xhaka, Kolasinac; Ramsey; Lacazette, Aubameyang
Carlo Ancelotti expects 'a different story' against Arsenal he humiliated with Bayern Munich
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