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4-3-3: 18-Year-Old To Start: My Arsenal starting XI to face West Ham

By on December 19, 2017

Arsenal are back in action this evening as we welcome West Ham to the Emirates in the quarter finals of the Carabao Cup. Here is the team I’d like to see Arsene Wenger select….

Goalkeeper: Ospina

Ospina is our ‘cup keeper’ this season so the Colombian international should come in with Cech given a breather.

Defence: Debuchy, Chambers, Holding, Kolasinac

Wenger will once again rest our big guns meaning the likes of Bellerin, Koscielny and Monreal will all be given the night off with the second string coming in.

The boss has gone with a back four in recent games and I’d like to see us stick with it but it gives Wenger a bit of a decision to make in the middle of defence as Chambers, Mertesacker and Holding are all vying for two spots.

If Per is 100% fit then it might be sensible to start him for his experience but I’d like to see Chambers and Holding given a chance to impress at the back.

Maitland-Niles would usually start at left-back but the youngster has played in our last two league games so he’s unlikely to feature tonight. Therefore, Kolasinac is set to come back in while Debuchy should start on the right.

Midfield: Coquelin, Elneny, Willock

With Ramsey ruled out for the next couple of weeks it looks like Wilshere is set for a run in the first team so he should be protected ahead of the Liverpool game on Friday night.

I’d go with Coquelin at the base of a three-man midfield this evening with Elneny providing some legs just ahead of him as the hard-working Egyptian international needs some game time.

It will be interesting to see who else Wenger brings in but I’d like to see Joe Willock given a chance to impress in the middle of the park. He’s great on the ball and the 18-year-old would offer something different to Coq and Elneny.

danny welbeck arsenal

Attack: Welbeck, Walcott, Giroud

Obviously Sanchez, Ozil and Lacazette should all be rested ahead of the Liverpool clash and Wenger has already confirmed that Walcott will start after recovering from a minor groin problem.

Hopefully Giroud will be used as an impact substitute on Friday night so he’ll lead the line up front tonight and the Frenchman needs a big performance as he’s been disappointing lately.

I’d love to somehow get Reiss Nelson in to my line-up but Welbeck needs a run out as he’s looked rusty since returning from injury so the young attacker will have to make-do with a place on the bench.

This is the team I’d like to see: