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4-3-2-1: No Auba, Xhaka dropped & AMN start: My Arsenal XI vs Everton

By on February 2, 2018

Ainsley.Maitland.Niles_arsenal

Arsenal desperately need to collect all three points when we welcome Everton to the Emirates on Saturday evening. Here is the team I would like to see Arsene Wenger select….

Goalkeeper: Cech

Tuesday’s defeat to Swansea highlighted once again our dire need for a new No.1 as Cech is well past his sell-buy date. However, there’s not much we can do about it until the summer and I still think he’s a better option than Ospina.

Defence: Bellerin, Koscielny, Mustafi, Monreal

The defence was woeful in midweek but the big worry is it was our best eleven who started against Swansea. Mustafi is so inconsistent as one week he can be outstanding then the next he plays like he did on Tuesday night.

The problem is ALL of our defenders have mistakes in them and none are reliable as even super-Nacho was at fault for their third goal. However, we don’t have any better options so I’d stick with the same back four and hope they have a good day.

Midfield: Wilshere, Ramsey, Maitland-Niles

It’s time to drop Xhaka. He’s been a liability all season but the Swansea game was the final straw as he can’t KEEP not tracking his runners. It’s infuriating to watch.

So it’s time for a change as central midfield is our biggest weakness in my opinion. Elneny isn’t the answer so I’d love to give Maitland-Niles a chance in his natural position. Let’s face it, he can’t do any worse than what we’ve got.

Wilshere is back in contention after recovering from illness and I’d love to see him alongside Ramsey in a three-man midfield. It’s got huge potential if we get the blend right.

Attack: Ozil, Mkhitaryan, Lacazette

Unfortunately our record signing has been suffering from a virus this week and won’t be 100% fit tomorrow so he’s highly unlikely to start. There’s no point rushing him in so I’d have Aubameyang on the bench.

However, I would hand Mkhitaryan his first full start after he came off the bench at Swansea with Iwobi dropping out. I have no idea why Wenger gives Iwobi so many chances but hopefully he won’t see nearly as much first team football from now on.

Ozil should be eager to please after signing his big-money contract extension while Lacazette is also under pressure to perform following Auba’s arrival so let’s hope we get some top performances out of them this weekend.

This is the team I hope we see:

3 Comments

  1. SimSim

    February 2, 2018 at 8:31 pm

    Nice team, completely agree. Lets see what AMN is made of in defensive midfield. He cant be worse than Elneny, Coq and Xhaka.

  2. Simon

    February 2, 2018 at 10:26 pm

    Arsenal need defensive to rebuild goalkeeper,2 defender,and i think mid-field players also much need to fit. New boy aubamayang will be fit for attacking.

  3. Nikkogunners

    February 3, 2018 at 6:54 am

    Agreed, dropping Granit Xhaka, a player Wenger has not dropped yet but his performances indicate he should be dropped would be useful. I suspects it limits Wenger flexibility in fielding. The pattern i would go with is 3.3.2.1.1. People are forgetting there is Welbeck, Iwobi, Reiss Nelson, Edward Nketiah who can sit on the bench and come in when one of the two needs to rest and so one does not have fears that after using the two there no one popping from the bench who can play super sub…And if Aubameyang can play today – Then Iwobi or Welbeck, even trying the youngsters Nelson and Nketiah can be useful

    ——Aubameyang———————–

    —————————Lacazette——-

    ———–Mkhitaryan-Ozil—————-

    Kolasinac——-Wilshere——Ramsey

    ——-Monreal-Koscienly-Bellerin——-

    ————————Cech——————-

    It would be a bold line-up if Arsene went for it but look at the advantages. Lacazette is aready showing great link up play with his colleagues and can play the second striker. Aubameyang at the CF role but biased to the left so he can take advantage of the width in the left to initiate attacks and stretch the defenders, Lacazette plays second CF but biased to the right so he too can stretch the defenders. Ozil and Mkhitaryan play a rear but potent attacking Mid-fielding duet, and can proceed to take chances and score. Ozil has already shown he can get the goals.

    Kolasinac and Ramsey provide the width but can cut inside and offer assistance to Wilshere in the Anchorage role. There will be no need for Bellerin and Monreal to spend too much time attacking and can stay back to defend 80% of the time. Cech…he needs to be replaced but that may only be in the summer.

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