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4-3-2-1 – Torreira & Lacazette start, Xhaka dropped: My Arsenal line-up vs Chelsea

By on August 17, 2018

alexandre lacazette

Arsenal’s difficult start to the new season continues as we travel to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea on Saturday evening. This is the line-up I’d like Unai Emery to select…

Goalkeeper: Cech

Personally, I’d like to see Leno take the No.1 gloves as it seems an odd decision to spend a large chunk of our summer budget on a new keeper only to leave him on the bench. However, Emery has confirmed Cech will be in goal again on Saturday and he played pretty well against City so we can’t have too many arguments.

Defence: Bellerin, Sokratis, Mustafi, Monreal

The big decision is who starts at left-back. Kolasinac is out for up to 10 weeks with a knee injury and Maitland-Niles has been ruled out for two months with a fractured leg that he picked up against City.

Lichtsteiner replaced the youngster last weekend and is an option tomorrow but Monreal is back in full training so as long as he’s fit, I see no reason why he shouldn’t start at left-back against Chelsea.

Obviously Koscielny remains out for the long-term with an Achilles injury so I expect Emery to continue with Sokratis alongside Mustafi in the middle of defence with Holding on the bench.

Midfield: Torreira, Ramsey, Ozil

Guendouzi made a couple of errors against City but overall he produced an encouraging performance considering he’s 19 and it was his debut. However, I don’t think he’s ready to be a regular just yet.

aaron ramsey arsenal

Torreira was impressive in his 20 minute run-out last week so I’d love to see him start in the holding role and it will be interesting to see who Emery plays alongside him.

I expect we’ll see Xhaka keep his place despite a poor showing last week but I think Ramsey should start alongside Torreira. I wasn’t a fan of Rambo in the advanced midfield position against City and feel he’s much more effective in a deeper box-to-box role.

With Torreira and Ramsey in the double pivot, we could then play Ozil in a slightly deeper attacking midfield position to offer an extra body in the middle of the park up against Chelsea’s three-man midfield.

Attack: Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang, Lacazette

I think it was clear form the final half hour against City that we simply have to find a way to start both Aubameyang and Lacazette as we looked a real threat with them playing together in attack.

Aubameyang has already said he’s happy to play on the wing to accommodate Lacazette up front so it’s a no-brainer for me. They both HAVE to start tomorrow [and every other week!].

Mkhitaryan wasn’t at his best against City but I’m hoping for big things from him this season and he deserves another chance to prove himself this weekend. He just needs to make sure he offers Bellerin plenty of protection.

Welbeck is back in contention after working on his fitness in training this week but I’d have him on the bench alongside the likes of Iwobi and Nelson.

Here is the side I hope we’ll see:

13 Comments

  1. Graham Benbow

    August 17, 2018 at 9:06 pm

    Weakness is RH side With Musrafi & Bellerin. Leno was far to expensive to have on the bench. Think back to when Emery spoke about selling Petr Cech & nobody wanted to buy him! Now he is Our first Choice. WOW

  2. Steve

    August 17, 2018 at 9:42 pm

    Looks a good line up but for me change the keepers move Ramsey into the 10 roll bring in the young French lad and leave Ozil on the bench.You would then stare to see the best of Ramsey and have a lot of enthusiasm drive and commitment in front of the back 4

  3. Dr. Patrick Olwata

    August 17, 2018 at 10:27 pm

    I think lets give Emery a chance as our Arsenal new head coach to take absolutely necessary decisions on whom he wants to play and which direction or tactics he wants the players to follow.But I personally believe in Leno more than Cech, more in Guendouzi than Xhaka. We shall beat Chelsea tomorrow. Big ups fellow Gunners.

  4. CorporateMan

    August 18, 2018 at 12:53 am

    Naaaaaaa, too attack minded selection, my friend! Chelsea would just kill us with that team! Ramsey wonders upfront too often. That would leave only young, adapting Torreira helping the defense especially during a counterattack. We need Xhaka in that midfield to help protect the defense and allow Ozil to flourish in his No.10 position.

  5. Agbaje

    August 18, 2018 at 2:33 am

    Starting the strikers is good but my own is that I have believe in Guendouzi and Torreira in the midfield with any other person

  6. Uwem Eyo

    August 18, 2018 at 6:34 am

    I Wish Team With The Line Up

  7. Ansumanu

    August 18, 2018 at 7:20 am

    This line up is good but let Xhaka and Torreira start Ramsay come from the bench

  8. jahkey marley sannchez

    August 18, 2018 at 7:41 am

    remove ramsey and put xhaka or guendozi and the line up will be ok

  9. sonny

    August 18, 2018 at 8:07 am

    use the same team that won the pre season

  10. APANGU IDDI AMIN

    August 18, 2018 at 10:33 am

    THE WHOLE THING DEPENDS ON THE FITNESS OF THE PLAYER WE MAY THINK ABOUT SOME PLAYERS WHEN THEY ARE NOT 100 PARCENT FIT.

  11. Henry Bosco

    August 18, 2018 at 10:59 am

    I’m of the school of thought that going with Ramsey and Torreira protecting the back four and installing Ozil in the number 10 role will give us a cutting edge for a win this evening letting both Auba and mhiky making the running into the Chelsea’s half to curse problems. Just hoping we can get our away form rightly from today’s match

  12. Nikkogunners

    August 18, 2018 at 11:26 am

    I hope we can play 4.1.4.1 pattern.

    ———-Lacazette——
    Auba—Ozil—Mkhi—-Welbeck
    ———-Torreira
    Monreal-Sokratis-Mustafi-Lichste
    ————-Cech————

    or 4.1.3.2
    ———–Lacc-Auba———-
    Mkhit——–Ozil———Welbeck
    ————Torreira——
    ———–Back5 as above——

  13. Ryan.Ibrahim.Sheola.Koroma

    August 18, 2018 at 4:07 pm

    MY PREDICTED LINE UP 4 ARSENAL V CHELSEA : 1.Cech 12.Leitchnier 18.Monreal 5.Sokratis 20.Mustafi 34.Xhaka 11.Torreira 8.Ramsey 10.Ozil 7.Mkhitaryan 9.Lacazette SUBZ: 19.Leno 14.Aubameyang 23.Welbeck 29.Guendouzi 17.Iwobi 2.Bellerin 4.Elneny

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