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4-3-2-1: Xhaka axed, AMN & Elneny start: My Arsenal XI to face AC Milan

By on March 8, 2018

Ainsley.Maitland.Niles_arsenal

Arsenal’s season is hanging in the balance as we head to the San Siro to face AC Milan in the first leg of our Europa League last-16 tie this evening. Here is the team I would like to see Arsene Wenger select….

Goalkeeper: Ospina

Cech had another nightmare at Brighton last weekend and his time as an elite goalkeeper is over. Sadly, Ospina isn’t any better but he’s been our cup keeper this year and it’s only right he continues in goal tonight.

Defence: Maitland-Niles, Koscielny, Mustafi, Kolasinac

Bellerin has been left back in north London to nurse a knee injury so we have a huge problem at right-back. Chambers was given the nod against Brighton but he was poor and he’s not a full-back in my opinion.

Therefore, I’d prefer to go with Ainsley Maitland-Niles. We played him at left-back earlier in the season so he should have no problem playing on the right and he’s more capable than Chambers of being a full-back.

Monreal is once again missing with a back injury so Kolasinac should keep his place at left-back while Mustafi and Koscielny should continue in the middle of defence. Neither player is in good form right now but we don’t have any better centre-back options on the bench.

Midfield: Elneny, Wilshere, Ramsey

I’ve been calling for Xhaka to be dropped for several weeks and I’ll do so again. We need someone to sit in front of the vulnerable back four to protect them and Xhaka isn’t the man for the job.

I’m not Elneny’s biggest fan but he’s more of a defensive midfielder than Xhaka so I’d tell him to sit in front of the defence and he can also drop back to make it a three/five when we’re not in possession.

Ramsey should be fresh after being rested last weekend so he’ll get a recall in midfield while Wilshere should partner the Welshman despite a poor display at the Amex Stadium.

danny welbeck arsenal

Attack: Ozil, Mkhitaryan, Welbeck

Aubameyang hasn’t travelled to Italy as he’s ineligible to play in the Europa League while Lacazette is still working his way back to fitness following knee surgery.

So Welbeck will get another chance up front and he should be desperate to impress as he’s been in woeful form since returning from injury.

Talking of people in poor form…..Ozil has been shocking since signing his new lucrative contract so it’s about time our star man pulled his finger out and put in a performance.

Mkhitaryan has also struggled to make an impression in recent weeks but Wenger is adamant he can play in the same team as Ozil so let’s hope they figure it out this evening.

This is the team I hope we see:

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