After an unbeaten but also underwhelming start to the season, Arsenal have made the group stages of the Champions League but are already four points of the league leaders Chelsea. So we really need to hit the ground running after the two week international break.
Hopefully then, apart from Olivier Giroud, Arsene Wenger will have a full strength squad available to him, with the new man Danny Welbeck to come in and Theo Walcott to return to action, although the Man City and Dortmund games may be too soon for him to start in, so I expect Welbeck down the middle with Alexis Sanchez on the right for those games.
The left forward position is a bit more tricky, with Santi Cazorla, Lukas Podolski and Joel Campbell all vying for it, and I would love to see the young Costa Rican given a chance. I think he may have to wait until after those two huge games, however, and perhaps play at Aston Villa or at home to Southampton.
Another concern for me is in central midfield. Hopefully Aaron Ramsey will snap out of the indifferent form he has been in lately, but if not I would consider dropping him for Jack Wilshere, who is playing much better this season. And I hope that Wenger had a good reason for not signing a defensive midfielder. If the injury cursed Abou Diaby can start to play the occasional game and get his form going, then I think we will be alright. And I assume that the Gunners kept hold of Francis Coquelin to provide cover and another option for Flamini and Arteta.
The back four picks itself really, when Kieran Gibbs is fit, but Monreal and Chambers should still see a decent amount of action as we need to rotate a bit to keep everyone fit and sharp. So these are my teams to face Man City at home and Dortmund away.
Szczesny Szczesny
Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs
Arteta, Ramsey Flamini, Ramsey
Alexis, Ozil, Cazorla Alexis, Ozil, Podolski
Welbeck Welbeck
What do you think Gooners?