Having never seen Ferguson, I don't feel I can pick him, therefore I'd go with this. I think Luka is best when he has a good passer alongside him, like when Cabaye was with us. As such, I think it's important we get Jairo into the team. I keep bleating on about it, but he looked class in preseason and I felt so sorry for him that he got injured just prior to the season's kick off. He also looks forward when passing, rather than constantly going sideways or backwards.

I know Eze's preferred position is in the middle, but I think he and Wilf can learn to switch during games. When he signed he said he was told he'd be playing on the left with the freedom to come inside, so this is not a surprise where he is playing. Eventually he may well end up more central but he's a young player with plenty of time to learn. Once PvA is back I think that will make a big difference, as Tyrick is nowhere near as adventurous.

I'm torn with Ayew. He works harder than anyone, but he oftentimes is missing from the 18-yard box at vital times. Playing alongside Zaha I think they are too similar and sometimes seem to get in each other's way. If we persist with 442 then I think either Roy has to bring Bats or Tekkers in for Ayew, or he needs to move Wilf to the wing, possibly for Andros. At least with Eze and Bats in the squad we actually have real options this season, which the same could not be said of last season.

A thoughtful post TL. I agree with much of what you say. However, I think Mitchell does look to go forward when he can and does deliver good crosses, so whilst I agree PvA probably provides more of a threat, young Mitchell is not far behind and seems to be learning quickly.
I'm not sure that Tomkins and Cahill together will work as well as it did last year. Also, I'm not sure they will both be able to last the season. Whilst they may be the best two CBs, I'd be inclined to play one of them alongside Kouyate and perhaps alternate them or have one as a substitute coming on after say 60 mins.
Batshuayi has to play. After all, his loan is (apparently) with an option to buy (for £20m?). No point loaning him if we aren't going to use him, to find out if we really want to buy him. He is after all a proper goal poacher and that's what we need -someone who'll get in and around that 6 yard box. Unfortunately, that means one of Ayew or Townsend has to lose out and at present, I'd put Ayew on the sub's bench.
I agree that both Riederwald and Eze should be in there.

Finally, we have to work on the basis of current form and performances and not on what players were doing 2 or more years ago, so as much as I love McArthur, he's on the bench for me, and as for Sakho, not even that!