Monreal out, Gibbs back: Pre-XI to face Tottenham
David Ospina is the obvious choice in goal but the picking of the four men right in-front of him will not be so obvious.
Hector Bellerin is now a certainty ahead of Calum Chambers at right-back – especially after that sumptuous goal against Aston Villa. This will be a tough trip to Tottenham though, and he will have to focus less on scoring.
At the other flank at Arsenal’s back is where there coud be a change. Even though Nacho Monreal has been as good as anyone can be in recent games, Kierran Gibbs assures more pace and tenacity to deal with the chaos that Tottenham’s wingers will try to cause.
With that in mind, the experienced partnership of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny has to continue despite any temptations there are about finally handing Gabriel his Arsenal debut.
If Alexis Sanchez had managed to be fit for this one, picking the line-up in attack would have been quite a headache. But in his absence, Santi Cazorla, Theo Walcott, Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud should be kept together.
Behind that quartet should be Francis Coquelin and Aaron Ramsey for some security in central midfield. Ramsey in particular does not always shoulder that responsibility of helping protect the back-four and you’ll have to feel that he may be the man withdrawn if Wenger fancies Mathieu Flamini or even Tomas Rosicky (remember his goal?) for this one.
Monreal has to start, he’s been our best defender this season.
Ozil should start wide left – Cazorla has to in the middle. Not only is he sensational as a playmaker, but his tackling and defensive awareness box-to-box has been outstanding. Ozil can drift wherever he wants from the left, but when we don’t have the ball, should stay wide.
Bringing Welbeck and possibly Alexis to run them ragged in the last 20mins will make this an easy win at the Lane. Coquelin will have Erikssen in his pocket as he did with Silva,