I have to admit that I am very surprised to see that the Arsenal team to face Burnley in the Premier League today will not include any of the three Gunners who Arsene Wenger revealed earlier in the week were available again after their respective injury problems.
Whether the boss is worried about their fitness is unsure, bu8t the fact that Hector Bellerin, Kieran Gibbs and Francis Coquelin are all on the subs bench and have not been out for long suggests to me that they could play if the boss thought it necessary.
I am especially surprised about Bellerin because in his place we have Gabriel and although the Brazilian is a good defender he does not have anything like the pace and attacking threat of the young Spaniard. Perhaps that is mitigated a little by Wenger going with Ramsey and Xhaka in central midfield instead of bringing back the more combative and defensive Coquelin.
Another player who may be disappointed to not be in the starting XI for Arsebnal today is Danny Welbeck, with our manager sticking with Giroud, Alexis and Iwobi, but with all three in great form you cannot really blame him.
Cech
Gabriel, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal
Ramsey, Xhaka
Iwobi, Ozil, Sanchez
Giroud
Subs: Gibbs, Lucas Perez, Ospina, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Welbeck, Bellerin, Coquelin.
Arsenal must take this game seriously and start well but as long as we do, will this side be way too strong for Burnley?
Bob.