How Arsenal could line-up against Manchester City

The Gunners host the reigning champions Manchester City on Sunday, August 12 before travelling across London to face Chelsea a week later. It’s a tough start to the first season for Emery but with the work having been done so far this summer Arsenal hope they will have a success. Arsenal correspondent Charles Watts has named the line-up he expects to see against Guardiola’s side using Emery’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. Bernd Leno Arsenal have brought in experienced Switzerland international right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner, however, Bellerin will start the season as first choice right-back at the Emirates. Sokratis The Greece international signed from Borussia Dortmund earlier in the summer and is fully expected to start against Manchester City. Calum Chambers Chambers could get the nod over Shkodran Mustafi alongside Sokratis on the opening day as he is highly rated by Emery. Nacho Monreal The Spaniard had a fine season last time out and I see no reason why he shouldn’t be first choice again next season. Granit Xhaka The Swiss international had a fine end to last season and could be a player who really flourishes under Emery. He was handed a new contract and with Lucas Torreira unlikely to be ready to start on the opening day due to his extended summer break, Xhaka will be tasked with the holding role in front of the back four. Aaron Ramsey The only way Ramsey will line up against Manchester City on the opening weekend of the season is if he does put pen to paper. If he doesn't, Arsenal will look to move him on. Mesut Ozil This is going to be a big season for Ozil and watching how he performs under Emery is going to be one of the most interesting aspects of the new campaign. Henrikh Mkhitaryan The Armenia international is going to be a big player for Arsenal this season, we saw that in his performances from January onwards. Mkhitaryan is an excellent player who will prove to be a real threat going forward. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Aubameyang should score plenty next season, given what we saw towards the end of the 2017/18 campaign. Alexandre Lacazette Lacazette will start against City as he will have had a full pre-season and Arsenal's ideal midfield will not yet be ready due to Torreira's extended summer break.

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