As you will be well aware, we have a highly anticipated clash with Manchester City at the Etihad tomorrow, but which players deserve their Arsenal place?
There are a number of selections which pick themselves but there are also a number of question marks having over certain roles, so we thought we’d take a closer look.
Shkodran Mustafi’s loss to injury has left a hole in our defence, and Gabriel and Rob Holding will have to have been staking their claim for a spot alongside our stand-in captain Laurent Koscielny.
The argument for the Brazilian is that he has already had recent first-team action after being utilised at right-back in the absences of Hector Bellerin and Mathieu Debuchy, proving he is match-fit, and he also has the obvious age and experience boxes ticked. Holding in my opinion is the better central defender from what I have seen, and when paired alongside Kosc previously, has shown experience beyond his years. I don’t think he will get the nod, but I would be happy if he did.
Cazorla missing in midfield also leaves a spot open also, with Francis Coquelin more than likely to hold onto his spot due to his defensive strength. Mohamed Elneny and Granit Xhaka are the main options, and the Swiss signing has been winning this battle most recently, but I would not be surprised to see Elneny get the nod tomorrow.
We also have three spots which need settling also, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, Alex Iwobi, Lucas Perez and Olivier Giroud hoping to make up the placings alongside Ozil and Sanchez.
The Chilean is very likely to stay in his favoured centre-forward role having excelled there this term, which would see Olivier stuck on the bench. Lucas Perez joined as a striker, but having operate wide in our side this term, I see him as more of a wide player as far as our team is concerned. The Ox has been enjoying a run in the first-team of late, but I have a feeling we could see the Spaniard playing down the left tomorrow, with Theo Walcott keeping his place down the right.
How do you see our team lining up tomorrow? Am I mad to expect Wenger to change some players around for the big game?
Pat J