Arsenal may be suffering from the usual festive injury list, but we still have a lot of quality in the squad. Wenger’s latest injury update wasn’t exactly full of festive cheer for the fans. He said “At the moment on Alexis, Santi and Mikel, we don’t know how long they will be out for.” And we know we can add Francis Coquelin to that unknown return list as well…
But it wasn’t all bad news as the Boss also admitted that we could have some players back as well. “We will make a decision on Saturday on Koscielny and Walcott, they could both make the squad. Gibbs is available again for the weekend.” And Oxlade-Chamberlain is also back with us and could play tomorrow to give us more options.
So who is Wenger likely to play? I don’t think he’ll throw Walcott on at the start, but will probably give him the last half-hour or so. Neither Gibbs or the Ox has played for a while, but we have seen Le Prof try Gibbs out in Sanchez’s position and he is more naturally a left-winger than Oxlade-Chamberlain. I think Wenger will start with Campbell and Gibbs outside of Giroud, and leave the Ox on the bench as cover if needed…
The defence picks itself but with a question mark against Koscielny, I think Gabriel will start, and Wenger will put Chambers on the bench as cover for Flamini….
So here is my team:
Giroud
Gibbs Ozil Campbell
Flamini Ramsey
Monreal Gabriel Mertesacker Bellerin
Cech
Who do you think Wenger will pick?