Everyone is saying that Arsenal need to be very careful in tonight’s Europa League match despite taking a three goal lead to CSKA Moscow, and Arsene Wenger has made it clear that he won’t be taking any chances. “We have an advantage, the best way to build on the advantage is to try to win the game, we play with our best possible team, have a positive attitude and try and win the game,”
So he will play his best possible team he says, so which starting XI is likely to take to the pitch in Russia tonight?
The good news (for me at least!) is that David Ospina is still not fit to play and Peter Cech will start in goal. As we are defending our lead I believe that Le Prof will play with 5 at the back, with Koscielny, Mustafi and Monreal as the back three, and Bellerin and Maitland-Niles as the wing backs.
Xhaka has the flu and has left behind in London, so I expect Wilshere and Elneny to take turns at helping out the defenders, leaving Ramsey more space to go forward to help Ozil and Lacazette up front.
It is a very defensive line up but when we have the ball Bellerin and AMN can bomb forward to assist our attackers and get some crosses in for Lacazette. Wenger says that he is going to Russia to win, but I doubt he will be encouraging his players to go on all out attack, especially in the first half.
So this is my expected line-up….
Cech
Bellerin Mustafi Koscielny Monreal Maitland-Niles
Wilshere Elneny
Ramsey Ozil
Lacazette
What do you think? Is this the best side that Wenger could put out tonight?