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Key duo start in 4-2-3-1: The Arsenal XI That Should Face Leicester

By on February 12, 2016

arsenal gabriel paulista

Arsenal desperately need a win when we welcome league leaders Leicester to the Emirates on Sunday afternoon….this is the team I’d like to see Arsene Wenger go with.

Goalkeeper: Cech

Petr Cech should keep his place in goal, obviously.

Defence: Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal

Per Mertesacker is pushing for a recall after being left on the bench for our last two games but I sincerely hope Wenger sticks with Gabriel alongside Koscielny.

Leicester are set-up perfectly to hit us on the counter-attack and the pace of Vardy and Mahrez would rip Per a new one. Gabriel is far more capable of dealing with the Leicester attack so it’s a no-brainer for him to start this weekend.

Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal have established themselves as our first choice full-backs so they should once again start.

Midfield: Coquelin, Ramsey

I have no idea why Wenger left Coquelin on the bench and started Flamini against Bournemouth but it would be suicide to do it again this Sunday. Flamini has done his job during the injury crisis but now he needs to revert back to his place as a squad player at best.

As I’ve already pointed out, Leicester are going to sit back and hit us on the counter attack and we need Coquelin to sit in front of the back four and offer protection – something Flamini just isn’t capable of doing as he constantly wanders around the pitch.

It’s also important that Ramsey curbs his attacking instincts from time to time and doesn’t leave Coquelin exposed and outnumbered.

Attack: The Ox, Ozil, Sanchez

Oxlade-Chamberlain finally took his chance against Bournemouth by scoring his first goal in 16 months and I’d give him another start on Sunday. His direct running will cause the Leicester defence problems…but he HAS to make sure he doesn’t shirk his defensive responsibilities.

Ozil and Sanchez should obviously keep their places and they are going to play a vital role if we’re to get all three points as the visitors are going to sit deep and we’ll need their magic to open them up.

Striker: Walcott

This may be slightly controversial but I’d go with Walcott up top. Giroud has hit a slump in form and I think Huth and Morgan would MUCH rather play against the static Frenchman than someone like Walcott who’s pace and movement will give them nightmares.

Theo has been playing poorly himself of late but that’s largely been out on the wing so let’s give him another chance through the middle, where he was excelling before he got injured in December.

This would be my line-up:

What do you think? What team would you go with?