It may not seem like it at times but Unai Emery has a first-choice Xi that many will find surprising.
As I was looking at some other stats, I was struck by the players who have played the most minutes for Arsenal this season under Unai Emery.
While many of the choices have been made because of the unavailability, through injury, illness or suspension, of others, it is clear there are a number of players that Emery favours over others.
So how does his first-choice XI break down?
In terms of minutes played, this is Unai Emery's first XI pic.twitter.com/HwfaoWtMCn
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) April 10, 2019
Of course, had Laurent Koscielny and Rob Holding been fit for more of the season there is an argument that could be made that Shkodran Mustafi wouldn’t have played as much as he had (perhaps that’s just wishful thinking on my part).
So, that makes his first-choice XI – Leno; Monreal, Sokratis, Mustafi, Kolasinac; Torreira, Guendouzi, Xhaka; Iwobi, Lacazette, Aubameyang.
Sounds about right…apart from the whole ‘two left-backs’ thing…