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Szczesny & Ozil Start: Arsenal Starting XI To Take On Aston Villa

By on January 30, 2015

wojciech szczesny arsenal

Arsenal get back to Premier League action when we welcome Aston Villa to the Emirates on Sunday afternoon. This is the side I’d like to see Arsene Wenger pick…..

The big question mark is who will start in goal. Szczesny was dropped for three league games before returning to the side for last weeks FA Cup win over Brighton.

Many feel Ospina will return between the sticks this weekend, and they might be right, but I’d prefer to see Szczesny return to the No.1 role. I think he’s still a better overall option than Ospina so we should stick by him until at least the end of the season.

Gabriel is available to make his debut but he shouldn’t start just yet. He’s only had two training sessions with his new team mates so I’d stick with Per and Kos in defence.

Hector Bellerin gets the nod at right-back for me while Gibbsy should start on the left over Monreal.

No doubt Coquelin should return to the midfield. After Flamini started against Brighton last week, it just highlighted how much better we are with Francis in the side rather than his more experienced French compatriot.

Ramsey is still struggling to hit top form but his energy and work rate is essential in midfield. However, the boss certainly has a dilemma over who else should play in the middle.

Cazorla is in the form of his life but Rosicky was outstanding against Brighton last week. There is an argument to say one of them should play out on the left but Ozil has to start for me, especially at home, so unfortunately I’d leave Tomas out for this one.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has been ruled out with a groin injury so Walcott should start on the right as Arsene has said he’s unlikely to risk Sanchez – whose suffering from a minor hamstring injury.

Up top it’s an easy choice, as Welbeck is still short of fitness after a thigh strain so Giroud will spearhead the attack.

Other injured players include Wilshere, Arteta, Diaby and Debuchy.

This is how I’d line-up:

I like the look of this side. Fitting Ozil in when Sanchez is fit could be Wenger’s most difficult task, but it’s a problem to have. Then when you throw Wilshere, Welbeck and The Ox back into the mix in a couple of weeks, we’ve suddenly got great strength in depth. Good times ahead…..

What side would you put out for the game?

11 Comments

  1. ike@ghana

    January 30, 2015 at 9:38 pm

    Ospina to start. Szczesny can’t help us. He needs to be benched for a longer period. He has become complacent.

    Reply

  2. panther

    January 31, 2015 at 12:09 am

    Ospina to start for me, Szczesny is a liability and a jinx.

    Reply

  3. JP

    January 31, 2015 at 12:17 am

    So you would take out the keeper who makes tge defence look organised amd is keeping clean sheets and put in a keeper who when we were 3-2 up at Brighton was needlessly throwing the ball out to players whom had opponents closing them down thus bringing pressure on to us for no reason?
    Sorry but i really don’t see your logic.

    Reply

    • Tyochivir prince

      January 31, 2015 at 11:41 am

      We need to win so pripared osp for this knw than seny

      Reply

    • Tyochivir prince

      January 31, 2015 at 11:42 am

      We need to win so pripared osp for this knw than szc

      Reply

  4. Dudu

    January 31, 2015 at 1:51 am

    Keep Ospina, he is lucky and has kept clean sheets for yhe 3 games he has played. See what happened in Brighton without him. We let in 2 goals in one game. I would stick with the goalie who keeps clean sheets. Ozil is our weekest link, keep him on the bench and play Rosicky or Chambo or Akpom.

    Reply

  5. Ruzvidzo Abinel

    January 31, 2015 at 5:01 am

    Better team but Os is better than Sze fo now.

    Reply

  6. Olatunji Olawale Skdsuccess

    January 31, 2015 at 5:36 am

    I think Ospina is a good option for now and we should keep up with our winning way, all the 3 point with a perfect clean sheet!

    Reply

  7. Patrick anaekwe

    January 31, 2015 at 7:07 am

    Ospina should be between the sticks.

    Reply

  8. davidrusa

    January 31, 2015 at 7:44 pm

    I don’t hold anything against the writer because this is his opinion but he should remember the old adage which goes thus: “Why change a winning team?” Why then would we remove Ospina? Scz is a good keeper but since Osp has been excellent he should keep in goal. Why also do you remove Monreal for Gibbs? I don’t understand it. Where has Monreal erred? Do you think beating Man City was a tea party? Ask Chelsea who have just drawn with them. It took a lot of guts and it is this we need for the remainder of the season. Hence I will go with Monreal instead of Gibbs. Gibbs can come later after all there are still 15 more games to play and 45 points to win after tomorrow. If we can win 40 of those after winning tomorrow we would be 82 points and who knows what could happen in such a scenario? Anything would be possible. Do you remember the words of Winston Churchill, whose 50th anniversary since his demise was celebrated yesterday, when he said during the second world war ” Let us strive on we shall conquer.” Hence Arsenal should strive on we shall conquer and who knows? The famous boxer of the 1970s George Foreman said, “Anything can happen in the ring.”

    Reply

  9. joseph

    February 1, 2015 at 10:59 am

    For sure ospina is good than szczesny

    Reply

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