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Giroud & Ramsey start in 4-2-3-1: My Arsenal XI to face West Ham

By on December 1, 2016

granit xhaka arsenal

Arsenal will look to bounce back from our League Cup disappointment when we take on West Ham at the London Stadium on Saturday night. This is the team I’d like to see Arsene Wenger go with….

Goalkeeper: Cech

Emi Martinez started in the EFL Cup defeat to Southampton but the youngster will make way for No.1 Cech this weekend.

Defence: Coquelin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal

Bellerin is still nursing an ankle injury and Debuchy picked up a hamstring problem last Sunday so we have a real void to fill at right-back. Jenkinson was pretty shocking against Southampton in midweek so I really don’t see how he can keep his place in the side.

It may be a little controversial, but I’d like to see Wenger go with Coquelin at right-back. He’s has experience in the role and has all the attributes needed to be a decent full-back. Surely he’d be a better option that Gabriel?

Obviously Mustafi and Koscielny should come in to the middle of the defence after being rested in midweek while Monreal will replace Gibbs at left-back.

Midfield: Ramsey, Xhaka

I’ve been calling for Arsene to give the Xhaka-Ramsey combo a try and I’ll do it again this game. With Cazorla now ruled out for 3 months following the news he needs surgery, we desperately need to address our midfield problems and find a reliable pairing.

Coquelin/Elneny certainly isn’t the answer so I think it’s time the boss gives Xhaka a run in the team and Ramsey could be the ideal partner for the Swiss international.

Attack: Walcott, Ozil, Sanchez

Walcott, Ozil and Sanchez were all left out of Wednesday night’s League Cup so the trio will return to our attack on Saturday. Let’s hope they’re well rested as we badly missed them in midweek.

Ordinarily I’d like to see Oxlade-Chamberlain out on the left and Alexis through the middle but I think we should go with Sanchez out wide against the Hammers and this man up top…

Striker: Giroud

arsenal's olivier giroud

Image credit: Daily Star

Sanchez is by far a more suitable striker for Arsenal’s style of play than Giroud but there are certain games where the big Frenchman is required and this is one of them.

West Ham are a big, powerful side and they’ll be a threat at set-pieces so not only will Giroud be a handful in attack, but he’ll be useful at defending corners and dangerous free-kicks.

This would be my line-up: