With Arsenal having played three League games in six days and the fact that we are facing Liverpool on Friday night, it was always certain that Arsene Wenger would be rotating his team to keep our best players fresh, but it looks like he is going to go the whole hog once again and play his full reserve side.
First of all Wenger told us that Mustafi was fit again but would be saved for Friday’s match, and Theo Walcott was also recovered and would return to play against the Hammers tonight. He then went on to assure us that his reserve team will be a lot fresher than his first team anyway. “Some players are a little bit on the edge.” Le Prof said. “I think as well that we have so many quality players who did not start on Saturday, so you cannot say that you prefer to play a player who has played three games in six days to a guy who is at the same level and is completely fresh.
“The players who will start are basically all international players, so that’s why I think [squad rotation] makes sense. You have as well to show the trust and the confidence that we have in the players who did not start last week.”
So it looks like a return to our Europa League side and I am expecting to see this line-up now that Walcott is back…..
Ospina
Debuchy, Mertesacker, Holding
Chambers, Coquelin, Elneny, Maitland-Niles
Walcott, Wilshere, Giroud
The only one I’m not sure about is Wilshere after playing two games in three days, but I also think Wenger wants to see if he still retain his strength when pushed. And in case you think this team isn’t strong enough you need to remember that this line-up beat BATE 6-0 last time out, while our first team strikers need 20 shots to score one goal!
Who do you think should play?
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