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Ramsey & Mertesacker Out: The Arsenal XI That Should Face Chelsea

By on April 23, 2015

Danny Welbeck

It’s the big one this weekend as Arsenal entertain Premier League leaders Chelsea at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon. This is the side I’d like Arsene Wenger to go with….

Opsina

Szczesny was criticised for his part in the Reading goal last weekend and he certainly didn’t do enough to reclaim the first team gloves, so Opsina should come back in this weekend.

Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal

I think it’s fair to say the Debuchy risk didn’t pay off last week as he was well short of match fitness and it was a miracle he made it through the 120 minutes. Therefore, Bellerin should be restored at right-back on Sunday.

Gibbs also looked rusty and we can’t afford that against Chelsea so Monreal should start along with Koscielny. Mertesacker is a big doubt after picking up an ankle injury at Wembley so Gabriel is expected to start.

Cazorla, Coquelin

The big decision for Wenger is what to do with the midfield. He’s tried to shoehorn Ramsey in by playing him on the right wing in recent weeks but it hasn’t worked for me as he keeps drifting inside leaving the team unbalanced.

So as difficult as it will be, I think it’s best for the team if we leave Rambo on the bench. Cazorla makes the team tick so he needs to keep his place alongside Coquelin in the centre of midfield, which means Wilshere will also have to make-do with a place among the subs once again.

Welbeck, Ozil, Sanchez, Giroud

I’d bring Welbeck in for Ramsey as he’d offer us pace and width down the wing, and he also works hard to protect Bellerin which will be important against Hazard.

Obviously Ozil and Sanchez will keep their places in attack with Giroud coming back in to start through the middle. The Frenchman made a huge difference when he came on last week so there’s no doubt he should start up top on Sunday.

This would be my line-up:

I think this is close to the side Arsene will actually pick on Sunday, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he stuck with Ramsey playing on the right. I ‘m not a fan of it, but I suppose you can’t really argue with our results lately.

Either way, we go into the game in excellent form so hopefully Wenger can end his hoodoo against Mourinho this weekend.

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