Carlo Ancelotti has come under scrutiny as a Real Madrid coach this season. He has been linked with a move to Brazil, and has made several tactical blunders that have caused Real Madrid to have a poor season.
Real Madrid have lost 10 games this season, and although they are in every single major competition so far, things look bleak and it is unlikely that Real Madrid are going to win a lot of silverware.
Things could change so quickly in football, and Ancelotti could start doing things that suit the team a bit more than they currently do.
However, starting David Alaba against Arsenal is not one of them.
David Alaba is not the solution for Real Madrid's left-back position against Arsenal
According to COPE, Real Madrid's coach is considering starting Alaba as the team's left-back at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
Alaba has just come back from an ACL injury, and in none of the games he has played has he looked close to the level he was at in his prime. Real Madrid's number four has had some incredible games, but not for a couple of years.
Real Madrid's primary left back Ferland Mendy is unlikely to be fit for the game against Arsenal, and Fran Garcia is the other left-back available in the squad.
Starting Alaba, who most recently helped Real Sociedad ship two goals in his own net, and had an average-at-best cameo in the 2-1 loss to Valencia, is not a good decision.
Alaba does not have the pace to deal with Bukayo Saka anymore, who looks more and more likely to start against Real Madrid.
Having just returned from an ACL injury, Alaba has looked a step slower to start things off, and that is the case with most players who return from an injury like that.
Starting him in Real Madrid's most crucial game of the season so far would be huge managerial malpractice. Fran Garcia has not been the best, but at least he has the pace to stay in front of Saka. Also, he is not coming off of a huge injury.
Ancelotti has to make sure he gets every single decision spot on for these two games, and if he does start Alaba over Garcia, hopefully it will pay off.