As expected Arsene Wenger has not made a lot of changes to the Arsenal team that lost at Everton on Tuesday, and he will be urging them to bounce back with a much improved performance.
This will be Wenger v Guardiola for the first time meeting in the Premier League, but Le Prof has faced the Spaniard many times in the Champions League, four times when he was at Barcelona and another four when he was in charge at Bayern Munich. (Guardiola Wins: 4, Wenger Wins: 2, Draws: 2). But the Premier League is a different kettle of fish and Wenger is looking forward to the increased competition, now that Conte and Pep have now arrived (and with Klopp at Liverpool of course). Wenger said: “I know it’s competitive and we’re surrounded by top-class managers but I want to win,”
“I think that the fight will be tighter and more difficult than ever and that we have an opportunity to prove that we can deal with the new competition.
“Of course, it stimulates everybody. We will see. It will be very open until the end I think.”
Well I know he said that on Friday but it’s not looking quite so open now with Chelsea a staggering 9 points clear this morning. But will it be Pep or Wenger that start clawing back the gap by the end of this afternoon?
Anyway over to todays confirmed Arsenal team…There is no room yet for Lucas Perez, who scored a hat-trick on his last start, or Olivier Giroud to start the game, And, in the only change from Tuesday, Alex Iwobi replaces the Ox after finally hitting form and scoring two goals in a week.
Cech
Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal
Xhaka, Coquelin
Walcott, Ozil, Iwobi
Sanchez
Come on you Gunners, let’s bounce back in style!
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