Arsenal play host to Burnley today in the last home match of the season, and Arsene Wenger will be waving goodbye to a home crowd for the last time.
The Frenchman is making his long-awaited exit from the club after 21 years in charge, and there is expected to be a ceremony after the match-up in his honour.
Santi Cazorla is also expected to make an appearance as he looks to call time on his Gunners career also, with his current contract set to expire this summer.
The Spaniard is not expected to start the match due to fitness, and while the match has little competitive relevance, a win would cement our place in sixth in the table, but the likelihood is that the Arsenal stars will be keen to send Wenger away with a final home victory.
Laurent Koscielny and Mohamed Elneny are expected to miss the meeting due to injury, but you would expect a first-team selection from the remainder.
Predicted XI:
Cech
Bellerin Chambers Mustafi Monreal
Ramsey Xhaka
Mkhitaryan Ozil Wilshere
Aubameyang
I firmly expect Jack Wilshere to get a place in today’s line-up due to the occasion, while there is the possibility that he could lose out in order for Lacazette to feature centrally with PEA pushed out wide, but time will tell.
I can’t see our opponents causing a shock today, as the crowd should be like the 12th and 13th men for such an occasion, and I firmly hope that Wenger gets all the credit that he deserves for the service he has completed and all achieved with us, even if he may have overstayed his welcome slightly.
Will Wenger’s departure prove distracting today? Can our stars give him a dominant win to walk away on? I say yes, but it will be close in the first half as Burnley will defend like buggery! 2-0 to the Gunners!
Pat J