Arsene Wenger has made a couple of changes to the Arsenal team that managed to fight back twice against Man City on Sunday to earn a draw, but the idea that our club captain Per Mertesacker may be in for a first game of the season due to the Koscielny achilles injury is on hold, even though his height and aerial ability would have been a factor in stopping Andy Carroll.
For now it is anyway, but the big German is on the subs bench so he could still feature if Gabriel or Mustafi come off for any reason. One of the team changes was forced on the manager as David Ospina was ruled out, apparently with a back problem picked up in the City game, so Martinez comes in and hopefully his extra four inches of height on the Colombian will come in handy.
Martinez
Bellerin, Mustafi, Gabriel, Monreal
Elneny, Xhaka
Walcott, Ozil, Alexis
Welbeck
Subs: Macey, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Iwobi, Giroud
The other change is in central midfield with the combative Coquelin missing out and not even making the bench, to be replaced by Elneny who will hopefully combine well with Xhaka to control the game. The attacking side of the Arsenal team is the same and the likes of Ozil, Welbeck and Walcott really need to step up and help Alexis Sanchez because we are in dire need of a win. Will we get it?
Bob.