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4-3-3: Wilshere starts as Wenger changes formation: My Arsenal XI vs West Ham

By on December 12, 2017

jack wilshere arsenal 2015

Arsenal need a win to keep pace with the top four when we travel to the London Stadium to take on West Ham on Wednesday night. Here is the team I would like to see Arsene Wenger select….

Goalkeeper: Cech

Cech may not be the keeper he was during his prime at Chelsea but he’s still easily the best we’ve got.

Defence: Bellerin, Koscielny, Holding, Kolasinac

It’s time to face reality….the back three isn’t working as we’re still vulnerable in defence so I’d love to see Wenger reverting to a back four tomorrow.

Mustafi is back in light training after recovering from a minor thigh problem but he won’t be ready to face West Ham so I’d go with Holding alongside Koscielny.

Monreal has done a decent job on the left of a back three but he’s not a centre-back in a two and Mertesacker was a liability at the weekend so let’s give Holding a chance.

Bellerin has regressed this season in the wing-back role but I still feel he’s the best option we have on the right while Kolasinac would just get the nod over Nacho at left-back.

Midfield: Coquelin, Xhaka, Wilshere

Usually I’d never choose to have Coquelin in my starting eleven but needs must as we have to have a proper defensive midfielder protecting the back four and Xhaka just isn’t up to it.

Perhaps is we had Ramsey available his work rate would help protect a more isolated Xhaka but the Welshman is out with a hamstring injury so I’d go with Coquelin in the holding role and Xhaka a little further forward.

Switching to a 4-3-3- means we can finally give Wilshere a chance to start in the Premier League and I think he’d excel in a midfield trio. Long-term he’d be alongside Ramsey but for now he’ll be with Xhaka.

Attack: Ozil, Welbeck, Lacazette

Sanchez was at his infuriating best at the weekend as he put in minimal effort and lost possession 32 times! Obviously he’s always capable of producing a moment of magic as he did for the equaliser but he’s making it clear his mind is already out the club so we can’t carry him any longer.

Therefore, I’d go with Welbeck in attack alongside Ozil as his work rate and pace would give us good balance in the final third.

Giroud is pushing for a start after coming off the bench to score the equaliser against Southampton but I’d love to see Lacazette playing up top with Welbeck and Ozil supporting.

That would leave Giroud acting as an impact sub again while the likes of Walcott and Iwobi will also give us options in attack – along with Sanchez of course.

This is the team I hope we see:

One Comment

  1. Stephan Larose

    December 13, 2017 at 3:05 am

    Welbeck does not deserve to start before Giroud.