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Koscielny & Podolski START! Arsenal Starting XI To Take On Dortmund

By on November 25, 2014

Lukas+Podolski

Arsenal welcome Borussia Dortmund to the Emirates tomorrow night with qualification to the knockout stages of the Champions League on the line. Here is the team I’d select for the game…..

Wojciech Szczesny has been ruled out with a rib injury that he suffered against Man Utd at the weekend and with David Ospina still out with a thigh problem, Emiliano Martinez will have to start in goal.

We received a major boost earlier today when it was revealed that Laurent Koscielny trained with the rest of the first team this morning and Arsene Wenger has confirmed the Frenchman is in the squad tomorrow.

Kos can’t be 100% fit as he’s only had one training session but if the club feel he’s fit enough to be on the bench, then he should be fit enough to start. A half-fit Koscielny is a better bet than a fully-fit Monreal so I’d start him with Per, Chambers and Gibbsy at the back.

Jack Wilshere looks set for a spell on the sidelines with a sprained ankle so Aaron Ramsey will partner Mikel Arteta in midfield. With Jack now out, hopefully Arsene will revert back to a 4-2-3-1 formation again as I think this brings the best out of the players we have available.

It means Alexis Sanchez can play in a free-role behind the striker – who should be Danny Welbeck after he was named in the squad despite missing training with a slight hamstring problem.

Olivier Giroud is ineligible as we didn’t register him for the group stages so we don’t have too many options if Wenger doesn’t want to risk Welbeck.

I’d also like to see Lukas Podolski given a rare start. Santi Cazorla has been in poor form this season so let’s give Poldi a chance to impress. He may not be the most hard-working player, but he certainly brings a real goal threat and would want to do well against German opposition.

Theo Walcott is still out with a minor groin problem so Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would make up my starting eleven, which would line-up like this:

What are your thoughts on my team? What players would you like to see given a chance tomorrow?

7 Comments

  1. bc

    November 25, 2014 at 3:45 pm

    That’s the team I would go with

    Bench: huddart, bellerin, monreal, flamini, rosicky, cazorla, campbell

    • oluwagbami femmi

      November 25, 2014 at 5:05 pm

      The team is ok! But what i’d like to say is that d manager should try and give d likes of poldo, campbel and rosicky a try match.

  2. Horluwaphemmy

    November 25, 2014 at 3:48 pm

    It’s so funny the way most people criticize Monreal for every Arsenal defeat. Monreal wasn’t @ fault for all the goals we’ve conceded except the penalty he gave against Anderlect. Mertesacker has been @ fault for 60% of those mistake and our playful Sczcesny. Monreal made important clearance against United and won couple of aeriel duels and he kept VanPersie in his pocket. Where was Mertesacker when Rooney got the ball half field @ the Emirates? So you expect Monreal to challenge DiMaria and Rooney. Let’s get off his back and blame Wenger

  3. Alan

    November 25, 2014 at 4:53 pm

    Martinez in goal, back four of chambers and per in the middle with Bellerin and Monreal at fullbacks. RAMSEY and Arteta in the pivot with Rosicky in the hole, Ox and Sanchez out wide. Podolski upfront

  4. Alan

    November 25, 2014 at 4:54 pm

    Team full of energy and gives the others some rest

  5. Agina Anthony

    November 25, 2014 at 4:57 pm

    The list of players are ok, depending on the players at hand, but I will keep laying all the blames of arsenals problem this season on Mr. Wenger who fail to sign a good replacement for Vemerlin and also failling to bring in a solid, strong experience defensive midfielder. Arsenal, defensively is zero and that is our problem. Like I have always said, this season will be worse for Wenger in arsenal, bicos I dont see us at top four this season. Watchout what will happen tomorrow with Dutmond. I still remain loyal. Gunners 4ever.

  6. cjb

    November 25, 2014 at 8:04 pm

    If in doubt blame the BFG for every defensive problem, too slow etc. etc.

    Ask Souness how to protect a back four, arsenal had Viera and Petit in the old days ………… Rooney hardly had a kick until the lucky first goal went in !

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