Will this be Arsenal’s first-choice XI this season? Choose yours…

Arsenal currently have a number of players sidelined, and have had to field makeshift defences so far this term, but what would be our favoured XI with all our players fit?

Our goalkeeper is currently deemed to be Petr Cech, but I wouldn’t be disappointed to see Ospina overtake him in the pecking order, if on merit alone of course.

Our best trio at the back is harder to figure out, although my preference would be to see Monreal fielded alongside Rob Holding and Laurent Koscielny, although Shkodran Mustafi should have a good enough understanding of his team-mates now to warrant challenging Holding or Monreal for his spot in the side.

The next four are a little trickier to pick, although I’m of the belief that Hector Bellerin and Granit Xhaka have earned their starting spots. Santi Cazorla would likely be playing alongside him if he returns from injury at some point during the campaign, but Aaron Ramsey and Elneny will have to battle it out in his absence. I have the feeling Elneny is perfect to partner the Swiss international over time, and feel he will bench Ramsey in the long run. The left wing-back role looks likely to be Sead Kolasinac’s in the long-run, although Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has impressed in the role, and is keen for regular action.

The rest of the roles are rather easy to select, with Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Alexandre Lacazette posing as our club record signings, and all posing as important players for our side. The question remains as to whether we will keep both Ozil and Alexis at present, but both will certainly be starters should they stay

Full Arsenal squad at present:

2 Mathieu Debuchy
3 Kieran Gibbs
4 Per Mertesacker
5 Gabriel Paulista
6 Laurent Koscielny
7 Alexis Sanchez
8 Aaron Ramsey
9 Alexandre Lacazette
10 Jack Wilshere
11 Mesut Özil
12 Olivier Giroud
13 David Ospina
14 Theo Walcott
15 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
16 Rob Holding
17 Alex Iwobi
18 Nacho Monreal
19 Santi Cazorla
20 Shkodran Mustafi
21 Calum Chambers
22 Jeff Reine-Adélaïde
23 Danny Welbeck
24 Héctor Bellerín
25 Carl Jenkinson
27 Joel Campbell
28 Lucas Perez
29 Granit Xhaka
30 Ainsley Maitland-Niles
31 Sead Kolašinac
33 Petr Čech
34 Francis Coquelin
35 Mohamed Elneny
61 Reiss Nelson

Will the above be our first choice XI for the big games (injuries dependent)? Or would you pick a different line-up?

Pat J

Tags Arsenal

57 Comments

      1. Um because Elneny plays his position and Ramsey although a CM plays ahead of the striker.

        Whoopy ding he scores a few goals, but we concede more than he makes up for.

      2. … consensus is, dispite his amazing cardio ramsey’s performances are often shambolic. he is best when introduced later in a game and that means from the bench.

        1. Whose consensus? Ramsey is a much better player than Elneny any day and twice on Sundays.
          The problem is he played out wide right for a long time. Give him a run of games in the middle of the park and we will see.

          Also Mustafi instead of Monreal

      3. I’m not convinced by Ramsey; my view is that he believes himself to be better than he is; hence the tricks, flicks, row Z shots from 30 yards etc.

        If he can go back to being more balanced with attack and defense (as he was in is best season) then sure he should start but until then no.

        My Team would be (ex injured players):

        GK – Cech.
        RWB – Chamberlain
        CB – Mustafi
        CB – Chambers/Holding
        CB – Koscielny
        LWB – Kolasinac
        CM – Coquelin
        CM – Xhaka
        ATM – Sanchez
        ATM – Ozil
        CF – Lacazette

        Subs –

        Ospina,
        Nelson,
        Monreal ,
        Chambers,
        Ramsey,
        Iwobi,
        Giroud

    1. ramsey for elneny
      mustafi for monreal
      although ramsey does give the ball away a lot and mustafi is not worth £35m
      maybe consider chamberlain for holding for his speed attacking
      or move bellerin to a back 3 instead of holding and have chamberlain as a right sided flying wing back
      move kolasinac to a back 3 on the left side if we buy a lemar/mharez
      type of player

      my team, depending on transfers
      cech
      kolasinac mustafi koscielny
      lemar ramsey xaka chamberlain
      sanchez ozil
      lacazette

      1. Monreal is amazing, just stop it.
        I love him at LCB, he is a lot like Blind and he also has passion and loves Arsenal.

        Monreal-Koscielny-Holding should be the back three.
        And give both Chambers and Holding occasional games and EL, League Cup and FACup.

    2. 4 Per Mertesacker Rotate
      6 Laurent Koscielny First team
      7 Alexis Sanchez First team
      8 Aaron Ramsey First team
      9 Alexandre Lacazette First team
      11 Mesut Özil First team
      12 Olivier Giroud Rotate
      13 David Ospina Backup
      14 Theo Walcott Backup
      15 Alex Oxlade- Rotate
      16 Rob Holding Rotate
      17 Alex Iwobi Backup
      18 Nacho Monreal Rotate
      19 Santi Cazorla Rotate
      20 Shkodran Mustafi First team
      21 Calum Chambers Backup
      23 Danny Welbeck rotate
      24 Héctor Bellerín first team
      29 Granit Xhaka Rotate
      31 Sead Kolašinac First team
      33 Petr Čech First team
      34 Francis Coquelin Rotate
      35 Mohamed Elneny Rotate

      22 Jeff Reine-Adélaïde Loan
      61 Reiss Nelson Loan
      30 Ainsley Maitland-Niles Loan

      2 Mathieu Debuchy sell 2M
      28 Lucas Perez Sell 10M
      25 Carl Jenkinson Sell 5M
      27 Joel Campbell Sell 5M
      10 Jack Wilshere Sell 18M
      3 Kieran Gibbs sell 10M
      5 Gabriel Paulista sell 10M

      Buy Van Dijk for 50-60M and play Mustafi, Boss, VD as the back three and we will have the most solid D in the league. With Per, Holding and Monreal as backups.

      Sead on the left, Bellerin or Ox on the right and our back 5 is set.

      Currently we have no outstanding midfield players. Ramsey, Xhaka, Elneny, Coquelin are all good players but none are exceptional. My bet is if given a run of games in his favorite role Ramsey will be the stand out player in the middle. Xhaka is on his second year so he will also be better this time around. Santi if fit will play, but that’s a big if.

      Up top Laca, Sanchez and Ozil seem to be the ideal three, with Giroud, Welbeck, Walcott, iwobi as options. Not a bad team after all, but not in enough to challenge with City and United so much more powerful this year.

      Get Van Dick – solidify the defense and if Sanchez and Laca have good years, maybe just maybe we can sneak in there.

      1. You have sold 7 players only out of the 33 we have…you need to sell 9 if we are to buy another player and still be within the 25 player squad maximum.

        1. Akpom? Iliev? Macey? Toral? All classed us over 21s and not in the squad but are part of the 8 we need to leave out. They could all simply be delisted and keto in the u23 squad or loaned if no one wants to buy them.

          My 4 others would be campbell Gabriel perez and jenkinson. We could raise about £30m there.
          Then I would also consider selling gibbs and debuchy to free up a couple of spaces. We could raise a further £15m there too.

          Personally I would sell the players unwilling to commit, but that is because I dont want the club to let them go for free. I think they are not committing, simply because of 2 things. The bosman option and champions league qualification

          Huddart to be 3rd choice keeper as he under 21

          My current best x1
          Cech
          Mustafi Mertesacker Koscielny
          Chamberlain xhaka cazorla kolasinac
          Ozil alexis
          Lacazette

          Next best
          Ospina
          Chambers Holding Monreal
          Bellerin coquelin elneny gibbs
          Ramsey Welbeck
          Giroud

          Rest of over 21s
          Walcott wilshire debuchy

          Best Under 21 x1
          Huddart
          Sheaf Bielik pleguezuelo
          Niles willock Adelaide Bramall
          Nelson iwobi
          Nketiah

      2. Sell elneny also…we take jack on loan…and sell as prescribed but…but there three if i’ll comes for sure we will have best squired ever…Lemar….Seri…and Van dick… We will be able to play all formation…according to the team we meet

  1. Mustafi will start over holding
    Elneny is ok back up but we need to spend on that position
    I would also give iwobi or Ramsey a start in ozil a position
    And before people shout out assist stats for ozil look at sigurdsons stats for Swansea and he works harder than ozil

    1. ramsey and elneny works interchanging but never ramsey replacing ozil – other than that yours is a good call. i do like sigurdson by the way.

  2. Taking stock of our squad, it’s huge. Needs trimming down, i’m still not exactly sure why we haven’t been able to shift anyone as of yet.
    Also, Joel Campbell the forgotten man. He hasn’t so much as registered in my mind this summer. If he’s not fighting for a place this season (and it’s a shame but he won’t be) then we should give him the respect due and let him leave. I think Joel will be Gnabry situation. You’ve missed a trick Wenger.

  3. I agree with a line except that,though Holding has been very impressive and promissing but would put Mustaf in there.

    Though has been unpredictable in terms of form and with all due respect to industrious and utility Elineny but Ramsey would be my choice(this is an area we need new signing)

    1. ..media hype and guesswork. he’s still recovering from injury so struggling to learn english is now reason to throw in the towel and go from ars to val? somehow i don’t think he’s leaving, not yet.

      1. Go on Valencia FC twitter page and you’ll find the letters of Gabriel being spelt out on a shirt. He’s off.
        Once again the season starts and we don’t know who Arsenal are looking to bring in. We’ve only signed two players ??

  4. Off topic, finally got a glimpse of seri against napoli and i gotta say first that Nices performance is the worst I’ve ever seen in champions league and seri looks average at best.

    1. I agree . He looked utterly pathetic. His ball control , distribution and positioning to intercept balls left much to be desired . He is not even very strong, the Napoli attack out muscled him on every challenge . Kante stands head and shoulders above Seri judging by his performance tonight . He didn’t look like an upgrade to Coquelin.

      1. Yep it’s actually 83

        If you include the 50 under 21s and 87 if you include the 4 currently out on loan.

  5. Ospina
    Mustafi Koscielny Monreal
    Ox Xhaka Coquelin Kolasinac
    Nelson/Wilshere Sanchez
    Lacazette

    That would be my preferred line-up with what we’ve got. The most controversial decision is obviously Nelson ahead of the likes of Ramsey, Ozil, Welbeck, Walcott, etc, but let me explain.
    I don’t even need to go into any detail about Welbeck, Ramsey, Walcott. They’ve all had enough opportunities, they haven’t impressed, time to move on.

    Then we Ozil. A guy who never turns up in big games, and is happy to just coast from game to game, with the odd good performance here, and there, against weak opposition. He knows he’ll never start on the bench, or even be subbed by Wenger, so he has no motivation to fight for his place. Only one good season out of four, time to move on.

    I like Iwobi, but he was poor last season. I would stick with him for the meantime because he’s still young, and has potential.

    Nelson has barely played for us, and I understand that’s a very risky move to pin our hopes on potential. I’ve even said it myself, no more potential, let’s buy/use ready made players. Problem is that we all already know enough about the aforementioned players, to know that they’re not the answer. So with that in mind, give Nelson a chance, because he was brilliant in pre season. Obviously I hope we sign a quality CAM, but Nelson is a good option within the squad.

    Wilshere would be my other option along with Nelson…if he’s fit. Because after Ozil, and Sanchez, he’s our only other player with a very high technical ability, and fits perfectly into Wenger’s style of play. Again, I’ve always been on board with getting rid of him, but we’re looking for options within the squad.

  6. wait antill Michael seri playing for Liverpool again us see before sadio Mane sign for Liverpool i said he was better than all our players except Sanchez some of you said what i was smoking i said coutinho was ways better than ozil some say can he play for Real Madrid no team want our players to start in there eleven only squad players that is why we can’t get rid of our deadwood

    1. Seri was seriously PATHETIC tonight against Napoli. All that hype and he looked like a weaker and less skilled version of Coquelin.

  7. given cechs performance against leicester its only fitting to allow ospina to replace him between the sticks, i understand it cech prides himself on maintaining a consistent clean sheet.. well ..the matter speaks for itself really…

    1. That first goal was literally a gift from Cech. I mean, the defending wasn’t great by leaving the man unmarked at the far post, but Cech would have easily caught the ball without a second thought if he had just waited for the header back into the centre.

    1. Yes VVD is definitely the player we need. I would play Bellerin instead of OX when we need to defend a bit more. Also would but Coquelin in for one of the front three when we are away from home against tough opposition.

  8. A general comment.

    My understanding is that Arsenal have to date spent circa £m55 this summer. A reasonable estimate of likely sales proceeds from players leaving might be £m35/40 and it is suggested that this might be end of business giving net expenditure of, say, £m20.

    Before the window opened the Arsenal heirarchy suggested that there needed to be major upgrades to the squad to ensure that we returned to the Champions League and other sources suggested that their was more than £100m free cash in the bank

    If this is the position on 1st September and the Arsenal team does not come out of the blocks flying, then the Board and management must realise that they will face a huge barrage of criticism from fans and critics alike, perhaps making Arsene Wenger’s position wholly untenable by the late autumn

    So whats the thinking? Why is that cash pile largely remaining unspent? have I got the arithmetic badly wrong or is that cash just not there or not available – for example because its security for Arsenal loans or Kroenke Group cross party pledges?

    Can anybody clarify?

  9. I agree with that team, except for one position that is debatable. Cazorla would be in that position if fit, but that’s looking unlikely.

    So Elneny or Ramsey? Both can be good on their day. Both can have shortcomings on their day. We’re not getting anybody new, so…

    Personally I still think The Ox could be really good in central midfield as a partner to Xhaka, especially with his current form.

  10. 2 Sell
    3 Sell
    4 Per Mertesacker
    5 Gabriel Paulista
    6 Laurent Koscielny
    7 Alexis Sanchez
    8 Aaron Ramsey
    9 Alexandre Lacazette
    10 Jack Wilshere
    11 Mesut Özil
    12 Olivier Giroud
    13 David Ospina
    14 Sell
    15 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
    16 Rob Holding
    17 Alex Iwobi
    18 Nacho Monreal
    19 Injured, not likely to return until after xmas
    20 Shkodran Mustafi
    21 Loan
    22 Loan
    23 Sell
    24 Héctor Bellerín
    25 Sell
    27 Sell
    28 Sell
    29 Granit Xhaka
    30 Ainsley Maitland-Niles
    31 Sead Kolašinac
    33 Petr Čech
    34 Francis Coquelin
    35 Mohamed Elneny
    61 Reiss Nelson
    New Player
    New Player

  11. all hypothetical of course because this club doesn’t have a true “best” 11, but from those who were still on the payroll at Noon today this would be my chosen starters

    4-2-3-1

    Cech
    Bellerin, Mustafi, Kos, Sead
    Xhaka, Elneny
    Perez, Ozil, Sanchez
    Lacazette

    obviously I would prefer to have a much more suitable alternative in the defensive midfielder positions but if they focused more on defensive end and the occasional long-ball, this would allow Bellerin and Sead ample opportunities to bomb forward on their respective wings while still having enough cover to maintain their defensive shape…it would likewise allow for overlapping runs on both wings, thereby letting both Sanchez and Perez to cut inside and get shots away in and around the top of the box with their most dominant feet…if goals were needed I would sub Bellerin for OX and bring Ramsey in for Elneny then switch to a 3-2-4-1(more of a 3-1-5-1 with Ramsey playing higher up the pitch) and I would only use Giroud as a sub when the game dictated it for tactical reasons…this would allow us to be a high energy team with incredible link-up play and a much more direct approach in the offensive end

  12. Kolsanic should be CB(L)
    Monreal should be LWB
    Monreal is not very good as a CB. Kolsanic is excellent. Monreal is much better on the left.

  13. ………………… Cech
    Mustafi… Koscielny.. Kolsanic
    OX or Bellerin…………….. Monreal
    …. Xhaka…. Ramsey or Coquelin
    ………………. Alexis… Ozil
    ………………… Lacazette

    I think Mustafi, Koscielny, Kolsanic would be an awesome Three man defense with Bellerin as RWB and Monreal as LWB

  14. OT,

    No Ronaldo, Bale, Isco or Casemero in the starting 11 for Madrid and they are still destroying Barca at the half. Never thought the disparity between the two sides would be directly correlated to Neymars absence. Barca better spend that $222M quickly. Lol

    And Kovacec is exactly the player Arsenal need to replace Santi, dude has been bossing the midfield and shadowing Messi all over the pitch.

    But I keep forgetting Arsenal is a selling club that will never challenge or compete against Europe’s superpowers.

  15. Ox for bellerin and mustafi to fight it out with holding. Elneny I’m not sure above Ramsey.
    Depends if we need creativity or solidity.

    Of topic what’s this suddenly late in the window that our business of new signings is finished now as outs will take up all wengers time and should be a priority. I know we’ve been overseas and due to wages out are challenging but come on delicate a little arsene.
    I can’t bring myself to believe that we’ll really not sign one more player.
    Maybe Wenger will manage to keep sanchez and ox and say they are like 2 new signings lol

  16. is this how wenger will be looking again this season and destroy arsenal completely. kolsanic and lacazette only.
    he will be saying rubbish till the window closed. he wasted much time on Thomas Lemar, he should have been the first person to buy player from Monaco before any other team but stinginess and coconut head. Anyway time will tell. Please wenger don’t come to Africa.

  17. Cech

    Mustafi- van dijk-koss

    Bellerin. kolsanic

    Ox. – XAka

    Ozil

    Laccazette – Sanchez

    Ok not all r squad , but realistic . And pretty solid too .

  18. Unay Emery said that this window he is willing to release Gregory Krychowiak from PSG. I don’t know why Wenger does not consider in making a bid for him. He’s one of the best DM in the world and he would probably cost no more than 35 – 45 mil euros. Also, I think we need another CB, I dream to sign Manolas, maybe Rugani. They can be inserted straight into first XI and in one or two years Holding can replace LK6. In attack we’re ok for the next 2-3 years. Next year we should think of replacing Petr Cech because it’s clear that he is getting old.

  19. The Ox instead of Bellerin at right wing back.
    Monreal at left wing back instead of Kolasinac.
    Mustafi at left centre back.
    Kolasinac – don’t know where but possibly defensive mid in front of back three with Xhaka.

  20. If everyone is fit:
    Cech
    Mustafi Koscielny Monreal/Holding
    Ox Cazorla Xhaka Kolasinac
    Ozil Sanchez
    Lacazette

    Rotate Monreal and Holding. Because Santi is injured use Ramsey as CM when we are playing park the bus/inferior teams and use Elneny/Coquelin for games we need to be more conservative.

    OT- still feel we need a CB especially with Gabriel leaving. If it wasn’t for the language barrier I feel he would have been quality. He originates from the Favelas in Brazil so can barely read Spanish/Portuguese. Despite this he always showed heart, courage and determination. A real role model from humble beginnings.

  21. I would play a 3-4-1-2 and play with two strikers Laca and Sanchez. I don’t like Ozil as right winger.

    Ospina
    Holding/Mustafi/Kos
    Ox/Xhaka/Ramsey/Kolasinac
    Ozil
    Laca/Sanchez

    If we want to play 3-4-3 I would leave Ozil out and play:

    Ospina
    Holding/Mustafi/Kos
    Ox/Xhaka/Ramsey/Kolasinac
    Sanchez/Laca/Iwobi (Sanchez is better as right winger and Iwobi is more dangerous as left winger)

  22. Cech
    Mustafi Koscielny Monreal
    Ox-Cham Ramsey Xhaka Kolasinac
    Ozil Alexis
    Laca
    Subs.
    Ospina, Holding, Bellerin, Coquelin (Elneny/Wilshere), Iwobi (Nelson/Walcott), Welbeck, Giroud.

    Different games breed different line ups for sure of course.. I’d draft in Mertesacker and Giroud against the likes of Man United, to avoid being leathered via set pieces as much as anything.
    Justification:

    I feel like Bellerin could do with spending some time learning about his position through watching the Ox. While not a pure wingback, the Ox is far more decisive in his movement and provides much more in the attacking build up. He’s also a lot more defensively mature than I think a lot of us expected. I also think the Ox and Giroud will play a big part in our teams results due to their ability to change the game late on. Ox with the driving run and sumptuous cross (cos you know even if Giroud is starting, we won’t start to cross into the box until the last 12 minutes), Giroud will do a Giroud and get his swede to the ball somehow and we’ll nick points.

    Monreal in at CB provides an adept and semi creative ball playing presence in the defensive third which I think is important to keep us moving the ball fluidly and intelligently and also means opposition need to compensate for the possibility of Monreal clipping the ball over the top to Lacazette and cutting the midfield out. We saw him do that by sending Ramsey on his way against Western Sydney Wanderers. Another key is Monreals pace which is above average for a central defender. Xhaka for all his advantages, does struggle to compensate positionally if the ball is lost deep in our half and with our wing backs are stationed out like wingers, we leave a big chunk of turf around Xhaka and particularly between him and his centre backs in which counter attacks can and will flourish. This is one reason I’ve omitted Mertesacker because I feel like his agility or lack thereof, will need our centre backs to keep tighter to him and therefore that space across the park behind our midfield and wingbacks will be covered by one man. Xhaka. Which could be costly against the wrong teams. Monreal provides some pace to help close the counters off.

    Despite setting up with Ramsey, I’d also be interested in seeing Wilshere line up with Xhaka in the centre of the park. A pairing that hasn’t really been considered yet in the grand scheme in my opinion. Obviously this also only works if Wilshere stays fit (is that a thing?). Together they’d provide a lot of vision, ability, tenacity, skill and definitely passion too but I wonder how 2 players so heavily reliant on their left foot would alter us in the middle of the pitch. A side note to this, is Wilshere has that short distance turn of pace which Ramsey and Elneny do not have, and while Coquelin has the pace, he doesn’t have the other attributes we need a midfielder to have in our current formation. Wilshere’s pace and dribbling would play a big part of healing the Cazorla shaped wound in our midfield.

    Welbeck is another who I think needs to just be given minutes. I see this season as his first real benchmark. He’s beaten the injuries and he’s settled in, time to see what he’s truly made of. If he stays fit and is involved in 10-15 goals I’ll be more than happy. What he brings to the front line is irreplaceable. Even the effervescent Sanchez doesn’t press like this guy. Plus, I feel like he’s a great option to lead the line in the Europa league and spot someone like Lacazette, Sanchez or Ozil. A front 3 in Europa of Walcott, Welbeck and Iwobi with Elneny and Coquelin behind them doesn’t frighten me like I initially thought it would.

    Holding needs to spend a few games on the bench too. Maybe not right now, but at some points during the season because he’s going to have moments like Leicester again… And that’s absolutely fine, it’s part of his journey and he’ll be world class by the time he’s 25-26 even without playing every single game this season. My reasoning is simple, we have to integrate Chambers back into the team. I feel like Chambers, Mustafi and Holding will be a formidable centre back trio for AFC by 2022 if we play our cards right. If we freeze him out and play him in second tier competitions, someone will buy him for £20 million and in the world of £50 million John Stones, I just don’t see the benefit. Gabriel for all his emphatic moments, is the odd man out in my eyes. He will never communicate with the rest of the team like Holding, Mustafi and Chambers can. Again.. In my opinion… Chambers has just as much upside as Holding. The difference I feel is simply price. If Holding cost 16 million and Chambers cost 2 million, I feel like it’d be different.

    There’s maybe 2 “big games” I’d consider removing Ozil from the team too. I love him to bits but Man City and Spurs particularly are too high energy midfields that just swamp him. He doesn’t thrive in chaos the same way that others do. Those 2 games, I’d go for Lacazette, Giroud, Sanchez or even Ramsey pushed forward into the front 3 and bringing someone with energy in like Elneny or Coquelin to keep our bite in midfield.

    I literally just wanted to post my team… Ive ended up ranting for a decade about allsorts of stuff. Sorry about that.

  23. I believe the Prof. knows how to figure it out, but I really miss the speedy arsenal midfield flow, which was always peculiar of arsenal football beauty. Even though, it’s been quite long without major trophy, we had this beautiful entertaining flow, even our rivals can not deny.
    Do you miss that beautiful flow of the ball?
    I really do, please Prof, do something, buy a creative midfield player of the style of Rosciscky or Santi or fabregas.

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