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Walcott & Rosicky OUT: Arsenal’s Starting XI To Take On Man City

By on January 16, 2015

Theo Walcott Arsenal

Arsenal face a huge test this weekend as we take on Premier League champions Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday. This is the team I think Arsene should select:

The boss has a big decision to make in goal. Does he stick with Ospina or recall Szczesny? For me, Szczesny is our No.1 and I think it would be a huge risk to keep the relatively untested Ospina between the sticks for this game.

It’s one thing facing the likes of Stoke at home, but he’s guaranteed to be called into action on numerous occasions on Sunday so I’d prefer we bring Szczesny back in.

Arsene also has to decide who to start at right-back with Debuchy ruled out for three months. Chambers is certainly an option but my pick would be Bellerin. He’s impressed every time he’s played so I’d give the young Spaniard the nod.

Gibbs faces a late fitness test on a heel injury and if he’s passed fit, then I’d start him ahead of Monreal. Nacho has done extremely well of late but Gibbs is our best left-back. No question.

In midfield, I’d certainly keep Coquelin in the side ahead of Flamini. The young Frenchman has been a real surprise package since coming back to the club and I feel he offers more than Flamini ever has.

Ramsey was back on the bench last week and I’d give him a start on Sunday with Rosicky the unlucky man to drop out in midfield.

He might not like it, but I’d shift Cazorla to the left-wing and bring the fit-again Ozil back into the team in the central role. This is a big game and big games call for the big players, so let’s hope the likes Ozil step up.

I’ve seen a lot of fans calling for Walcott to start but I think it was pretty obvious again last week that he’s still rusty so I’d leave him on the bench and start Sanchez from the right. But he can drift all over and switch with Cazorla/Ozil. Or pretty much do whatever he likes because he’s god.

Giroud will lead the line as Welbeck is still out with a thigh injury. So this is how I’d line-up:

How Arsene will actually line-up is anyone’s guess, as we’ve actually got a lot of options in attack now that some of the players are fit again, but this is the eleven I’d go with….

What side would you put out for the game?

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