Obviously I don’t have a crystal ball, but I think I have a good insight into the way that Arsene Wenger thinks when it comes to resting players for Cup games. Le Prof has already said that Cech, Chambers and Campbell will play so I won’t take credit for those predictions!
Tonight’s trip to Sheffield Wednesday should be a lot easier than the task Arsenal faced in the last round when they had to go to White Hart Lane. Matthieu Flamini scored the two goals that knocked Tottenham out, and I think that Wenger will play Flamini in a more advanced role than usual. Wenger told him to go for goals when he brought the Frenchman on at Everton, and I am sure that was in preparation for this match.
Mertesacker is back from his illness, and he will play alongside Chambers, with the normal reserves of Gibbs and Debuchy up the sides.
I think Wenger will stick with Coquelin to provide some protection for the defence at the start, but I expect him to be taken off as soon as it looks like we have secured the win. Maybe Bielik may get a run out as sub depending on the score of course!
I think Walcott will be the striker as he hasn’t scored for a couple of games and Wenger will want him to get a bit of confidence back tonight, and Campbell and Oxlade-Chamberlain will be in support. The Ox desperately needs confidence and e may feel a bit happier against lower League opposition and he may be played as support striker.
I believe Wenger’s wild card will be Alex Iwobi on the wing, as Jeff Reine-Adelaide is out at the U17 World Cup.
So here is my starting XI
Cech
Gibbs
Mertesacker
Chambers
Debuchy
Coquelin
Flamini
Oxlade-Chamberlain
Campbell
Iwobi
Walcott
I am absolutely certain of nine of them, and the only question marks are over Coquelin and Iwobi.
What do you think?