Ozil dropped, Emery hands surprise start to forgotten Arsenal player for Watford clash

Arsenal boss, Unai Emery, has handed defender, Konstantinos Mavropanos, a surprise place in the starting line-up for the Gunners’ match against Watford in the Premier League.

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 01: of Arsenal during a training session at London Colney on February 01, 2019 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

It will be the first start in the English top-flight this season for the 21-year-old Greek defender, who will feature alongside captain Laurent Koscielny in the centre of their defence while Shkodran Mustafi starts at right back for the North London club.

Super Eagles star, Alex Iwobi also starts for Arsenal upfront alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, with Mesut Ozil and Alaxandre Lacazette named on the bench instead having started Arsenal last two games.

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - APRIL 14: (L-R) Alex Iwobi and Sokratis of Arsenal during a training session at London Colney on April 14, 2019 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Midfielder, Granit Xhaka returns to the first team and plays along with Lucas Torreira and Aaron Ramsey in a three-man midfield. The latter two started in last Thursday’s 2-0 win over Napoli in the Europa League quarter-final first leg.

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Also dropped from the starting line-up are Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Sead Kolasinac, while Sokratis Papastathopoulos is out of the squad as he serves the first of a two-match suspension in the Premier League.

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