Arsenal face rivals Tottenham at Wembley on Saturday in what is a potential crunch clash between the two sides in the battle for a top four finish this season.
A win for the Gunners would move them to within just a point of their bitter rivals in third place, and so coupled with Mauricio Pochettino’s men stumbling in recent weeks, it will be a big test for them to overcome.
SEE MORE: Arsenal scout €50m-rated Serie A starlet to bolster Unai Emery’s midfield options
However, Unai Emery hasn’t received the greatest of reactions to his starting line-up for the encounter, as seen in the tweets below.
Many Arsenal fans have been left stunned by the decisions to leave Lucas Torreira, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Ozil on the bench, and have shared their frustration below.
Meanwhile, Alexandre Lacazette returns to the starting line-up along with Granit Xhaka, while the other big call from Emery sees Henrikh Mkhitaryan keep his place in the XI from the side which secured a 5-1 win over Bournemouth in midweek.
It’s a big call to leave such quality players on the bench, and perhaps the biggest shock is Torreira in many ways given the tenacity, energy and work-rate that he could have provided in the heart of the midfield to give Arsenal a foothold in the showdown.
However, he’ll have to be content with a place on the bench, with Emery undoubtedly at risk of facing a backlash if the result doesn’t go Arsenal’s way this weekend.
? NORTH LONDON DERBY TEAM NEWS ?
? @LacazetteAlex starts
? Granit Xhaka returns
? @HenrikhMkh keeps his place#NLD #TOTARS— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) March 2, 2019
No torriera. No Ozil. No Auba. No chance.
— Sir Duke (@L1XMJXYC3) March 2, 2019
Torreira????
— Jack B (@JackB18882911) March 2, 2019
Where is Torriera?
— Raaja (@raaja_afc) March 2, 2019
Torreria aubameyang?
— Abdiasis (@AbdiasisAden88) March 2, 2019
No Ozil no party pic.twitter.com/ZxajX28naB
— Davidsid (@davidsid10) March 2, 2019
NO TORREIRA WTF
— Musa (@1dannnyy) March 2, 2019
No Torreria is mind blowing
— Bayford-Conquest (@ItsGeorgeBC) March 2, 2019
Torreira, aubameyang and ozil on the bench ?
— Curtis Shaw (@curtisshaw9) March 2, 2019
Wtf is this team!!! No Torreira or Ozil
— Harry (@HarryAFC17) March 2, 2019
HOW DO YOU NOT PLAY TORREIRA FFS????
— Tom//? (@tom_mxson) March 2, 2019
