Arsenal take on Chelsea in their second game of the new Premier League season and Unai Emery’s side will be desperate to turn things around after the loss to Man City last weekend.
The Gunners lost the opening game 2-0 but the manager who is in charge of only his second competitive game at the club is not expected to make a whole lot of changes to his side on Saturday.
But talking to at the pre-match press conference, Unai Emery did drop a few hints about his first eleven against Maurizio Sarri’s side.
Who will play in goal?
The first big thing is the fact that the manager has more or less confirmed that veteran keeper Petr Cech will start in goal on Saturday while summer signing Bernd Leno will be on the bench.
Emery said: “I am very happy with his performance. He has experience, he has quality, he has the capacity. Also, with Bernd Leno [it’s the same]. They are two goalkeepers who are important for us.
“They have different qualities but for us in the way we want to play, they can [both] play. For Saturday, the decision for me is easy. Petr Cech can continue to start the match, I believe in him. [But] If Bernd starts, I believe in him also.”
Does the manager have a fit left-back?
Another major area of concern for the manager is the left-back position after Maitland-Niles was injured during the Man City clash forcing right-back Lichtsteiner to play in an unfamiliar position.
And talking to the press the manager indirectly confirmed that there is no possibility of Maitland-Niles returning back to full fitness before the Chelsea game. He also reveals which two players are likely to be in contention to feature at left-back.
The manager said: “It’s clear that we don’t want to have injuries in the team. When you want to play and be competitive, they can arrive. The first injury with Kolasinac was important because I think he was playing well in pre-season.
“But we needed to play with another player like Ainsley [once Kolasinac was injured]. His performance can improve, he can get better in his career in the team. Maybe not especially at left back, but he was playing well in the first 25 minutes on Sunday. After this injury, I tried with Lichtsteiner, who is a player with experience.
“He can play at left back but his position in the team is more at right back. This week Nacho Monreal is working every day, training every day with us. The two options we have now are Nacho Monreal and Lichtsteiner to continue in this position.”
So clearly Unai Emery has a left-back crisis going into the Chelsea game. While Nacho Monreal is a recognized left-back but we feel that the player will not be able to make himself fit before Saturday – or else the manager would not have taken his and Lichtsteiner’s name in the same breath.
Read: 4-3-2-1 Chelsea’s predicted line-up vs Arsenal.
Read: 4-3-3 Arsenal’s predicted line-up vs Chelsea.
Read: Celtic FC fans want ‘this’ Chelsea legend to replace their tantrum throwing defender.
Read: Unai Emery might have a major selection crisis as Arsenal head to Stamford Bridge.
