It may not seem like it at times but Unai Emery has a first-choice Xi that many will find surprising.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 02: Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal talks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal before he is substituted on during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC at Wembley Stadium on March 02, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 02: Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal talks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal before he is substituted on during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC at Wembley Stadium on March 02, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

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?

Unai Emery's first XI based on minutes played this season
Unai Emery’s first XI based on minutes played this season

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…