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Unai Emery reveals the type of lineup he will use against Blackpool
Arsenal’s main target this season is to get back to the UEFA Champions League and to achieve that, the club needs to be serious in the Premier League so that they can finish in the top four and need to have put their minds on the UEFA Europa League because the Champions of that European competition earn automatic qualification to the UCL.
But the FA Cup is also important to the Arsenal supporters because it’s the only cup which they have managed to win in the last decade and nevertheless, they are the joint record winners of it and the fans would be happy to see Unai Emery win it this season. So there’s fears among the Arsenal fans that the boss might use a weak squad against Blackpool on Saturday because he wants to focus on the Premier League and UEFA Europa League.
Former Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger used to use the FA Cup and Carabao Cup as competitions where he uses weak squads consisting of youngsters to test their capabilities but it backfired last season because they got knocked out by Nottingham Forest because they used a bad lineup. Unai Emery has however hint at using a strong lineup as he says that he wants them to be competitive.
“We are going to be competitive. The priority is the next match, and that’s Blackpool. I am going to play with the players to be competitive.” Unai Emery told Arsenal Media.
“If we need some young players to do one mix, but finding this power to be stronger with them, we will do it. The priority now is Blackpool.”
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Injury update: Three first players could return for Arsenal when they take on Blackpool in the FA Cup
And before the match, Unai Emery has finally provided some good news about his long list of injured players.
Arsenal injury update:
Danny Welbeck picked up an ankle injury earlier this season and the player is currently recovering from surgery. The English international will not be taking part in any action for the rest of the season. Rob Holding like Welbeck is a long-term absentee and he too is recovering from an ACL injury. The centre-back is sidelined for the next six to eight months.Henrikh Mkhitaryan has a fractured metatarsal and the club have confirmed the Armenian will return back to training in February.
Emile Smith Rowe has a right hip injury and will return back to training in two weeks time.
Hector Bellerin is currently recovering from a calf strain and the right-back will go through a late fitness test before the game against Blackpool. If he is available then the Spaniard will surely start since this low key game will be the ideal match to get Bellerin back to match fitness.
Nacho Monreal picked up a hamstring injury but the player is in contention to start against Blackpool.
Shkodran Mustafi is also out with a hamstring injury but Unai Emery has confirmed that the injury is not too serious meaning the defender might start in the FA Cup game.
Mesut Ozil has a left knee injury and he will go through a late fitness test before Saturday’s game versus Blackpool.
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