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Walcott & Welbeck start in 4-2-3-1: My Arsenal XI To Face Barcelona

By mac14 on February 22, 2016

Arsenal face the daunting prospect of taking on Barcelona in the Champions League when we welcome the Spanish giants to the Emirates on Tuesday night….this is the team I’d like to see Arsene Wenger go with.

Goalkeeper: Cech

Petr Cech was rested for the FA Cup draw at home to Hull City at the weekend and obviously he should come back in to the side tomorrow.

Defence: Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal

Gabriel has been ruled out with a hamstring injury so it looks like Per Mertesacker will partner Laurent Koscielny at the back. There is the obvious worry about Per’s pace up against the likes of Messi, Neymar and Suarez but hopefully his superb positional play will make up for that. Plus, we need to make sure we don’t leave him exposed.

Hector Bellerin will come back in for Calum Chambers at right-back while Nacho Monreal will also replace Kieran Gibbs on the left.

Midfield: Ramsey, Coquelin

Both Aaron Ramsey and Francis Coquelin were rested at the weekend and should resume their partnership in the middle of the park. There could be a temptation to play Mohamed Elneny as a second defensive midfielder but we’re at home and need to win this game if we’re to have any chance of progressing so I’d go with Rambo next to Coquelin.

Attack: Walcott, Ozil, Sanchez

The big debate is who should start on the right side of midfield and while The Ox, Campbell and Welbeck are all options, I’d go with Walcott. Theo has been inconsistent of late but Barca have always been scared of his pace and this will be the case again tomorrow.

Obviously Mesut Ozil will start in the hole while Alexis Sanchez will take on his former side for the first time since leaving the Catalans in 2014.

Striker: Welbeck

Now this may be a little controversial but I’d actually go with Danny Welbeck up top and use Olivier Giroud as an impact sub. We’re not going to see much of the ball tomorrow night and we’ll have to play on the counter attack so I’d go with Welbeck’s pace. Plus, he’ll press higher up the pitch more than Giroud would.

This would be my line-up:

What do you think? What team would you go with?

5 Comments

Fatboy gooney

February 22, 2016 at 11:32 pm

————- Koscielny – Mertesacker – Monreal
—————————— Cech
——Bellerin —– Coquelin — Elneny — Gibbs
—————————— Ozil
——————— Sanchez
——————————— Walcott

See if MSN can get passed our parked Train behind Petr Cech

Reply
paul35mm

February 23, 2016 at 1:46 pm

Cech
Monreal, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Bellerin
Elneny, Coquelin
Sanchez, Ozil, Welbeck
Giroud

The back four pick themselves. Theo nly question would be Chambers for Mertesacker, but in truth Arsenal will need to be deeper than usual to defend Messi, Suarez, and Neymar, who all like to go behind the back line.

In midfield, Coquelin’s ability to shield the back four in the middle of the park will be critical to not conceding early. Ramsey’s lack of defensive commitment is a risky thing in this game. Start with Elneny & Le Coq and bring on Ramsey if you need to chase the game late. Rest him for the PL if the game gets out of hand early.

In the attacking Midfield Sanchez and Ozil are the core. The debate is what to do on the right. Campbell is a solid defensive option, while Welbeck is a willing defender as well, with more pace and more offensive presence. Walcott’s pace would be useful, but he’s such a defensive liability and his first touch is often so iffy. Arsenal won’t get many chances so they need to maximize the ones they do get. Oxlade-Chamberlain is also a possibility, but Welbeck seems the best option.

Up front it has to be Giroud. He’s scored 20 in all competitions this season already, he offers hold up play that will be important in helping Arsenal get the ball out of their own half and keeping it out.

This leaves Walcott, Ramsey, Ox, Campbell on the bench, which seems unlikely from Arsene Wenger. Expect Ramsey in midfield and Walcot, Ozil, and Sanchez in midfield. Another possibility is a front four of;

Sanchez, Ozil, Welbeck,
Walcott.

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Sair

February 23, 2016 at 3:39 pm

Bellerin mertersacker kosienly gibbs

Coqulien ramsey

Walcott ozil sanchez

Giroud

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mason

February 23, 2016 at 4:56 pm

Great minds think alike mine is great and yours too because you read my mind

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Me

February 23, 2016 at 9:38 pm

Just like to say well played Flamini and Mertesacker – where are career ending knee injuries when you need them. Wenger should be deemed incompetent if he cannot find better than these two useless lumps

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