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Sanchez & Koscielny out: My starting XI to take on Dinamo Zagreb

By on November 23, 2015
Laurent-Koscielny arsenal

Image credit: Express

Arsenal entertain Dinamo Zagreb at the Emirates tomorrow night looking to keep our Champions League qualification hopes alive. This is the side I’d go with:

Goalkeeper: Cech

Petr Cech should start in goal, obviously.

Defence: Bellerin, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Monreal

While this is an important game in the Champions League, my focus would still be on the Premier League so I’d give a few key men a rest. One being Laurent Koscielny.

That would mean Gabriel starting alongside Mertesacker at the back while Bellerin and Monreal should retain their places in the full-back slots.

Midfield: Cazorla, Chambers

The disastrous news was confirmed today with Coquelin facing at least two months on the sidelines after damaging knee ligaments on Saturday, so we have a huge void to fill in midfield.

Arteta is also out after suffering a calf problem at the weekend so Flamini is the most likely to start alongside Cazorla tomorrow night. However, the thought of him playing every week for the foreseeable future fills me with dread so I’d be keen to test out Chambers in the holding role.

Arsene confirmed at his press conference today that Chambers is a viable option for that position so let’s give him a chance. He really can’t do any worse than Flamini.

Attack: Campbell, Ozil, Gibbs

Another player who I’d give a rest to is Sanchez as he’s in desperate need of a breather. Obviously with so many injuries it will be difficult to leave him out but the last thing we need is the Chilean picking up a knock.

So I’d play Gibbs on the left and Campbell on the right and only bring Sanchez off the bench if needed. Aaron Ramsey is back in contention after returning to training but I’d ease him back in to action with a second half sub appearance.

The Ox is due back against Norwich at the weekend but this game comes too soon so he’s out along with Walcott, Wilshere, Welbeck and Rosicky.

Striker: Giroud

We have no other fit strikers available, so Giroud has to continue up front.

This would be my line-up:

This would be my line-up but in reality I think we’ll see Arsene probably go with his strongest side, which means Koscielny and Sanchez both starting. I’m not sure what he’ll do with Ramsey so we’ll have to wait and see the line-up tomorrow.

What side would you put out?

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