OFFICIAL Arsenal team and NLD preview – Walcott in, Giroud out

I cannot help but feel a little bit sorry for our centre forward Olivier Giroud, who gets more than his fair share of criticism from fans of Arsenal and the France national team, despite his record being pretty good. He does a good job for us and was a big part of the Gunners winning the last two games against Ludogorets Razgrad and Sunderland but once again he finds himself on the bench today for the visit of Tottenham.

The Frenchman may well have a big part to play in this north London derby but I cannot blame Arsene Wenger for leaving him out of the starting line-up, because the return to fitness of the in form England forward Theo Walcott allows Arsenal to go back to the system and formation that has looked so good this season, with Alexis Sancjez through the middle.

Cech
Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal
Coquelin, Xhaka
Walcott, Ozil, Iwobi
Sanchez

Subs: Ospina, Gibbs, Gabriel, Ramsey, Elneny, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud.

The other major team news is that Wenger has gone with Xhaka instead of Ramsey in central midfield, with Cazorla still not ready, while Momnreal and Gibbs are both in the squad with the Spaniard getting the nod.

The news from the spuds is that Kane does start up front and they are clearly hoping to stifle our attacking flair with Dembele, Dier and Wanyame all starting in midfield. Will they be able to do that? Will Kane continue his good record against Arsenal?

Or will this game go by current form and finish in three more points for the Gunners?

Bob.