Unai Emery has handed starts to a lot of youngsters as Arsenal prepare to take the field to open their UEFA Europa League campaign against Eintracht Frankfurt.
European competitions are set to start, which means double matchdays will become a thing again for top teams to contend with; even more so for the ones participating in the UEFA Europa League. As a result, we have seen Unai Emery name a rather youthful Arsenal starting eleven for their opener against Frankfurt.
Emiliano Martinez is in goal for the Gunners, with David Luiz and Sead Kolasinac the only defenders to retain their places in the back four. The two are accompanied by Shkodran Mustafi and Calum Chambers, both of whom will look to impress Emery in hopes of getting a look in to become a regular for Arsenal.
? Our team news for tonight’s @EuropaLeague opener…
✅ @EmileSmithRowe starts
✅ @BukayoSaka87 is also in the lineup
✅ @JoeWillock returns to the starting XI? #UEL
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 19, 2019
Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira is the designated midfield pairing, which shows Emery has gone for experience in the most important part of the field. Emile Smith Rowe, Joe Willock and Bukayo Saka form a trio of Arsenal youngsters that will feature in attack behind the predatory presence of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who will lead the attack against Frankfurt.
Summer arrivals Nicolas Pepe, Gabriel Martinelli and Dani Ceballos are among the stars on the bench.
Arsenal Starting XI: Martinez, Chambers, David Luiz, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Torreira, Smith Rowe, Willock, Saka, Aubameyang
