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4-3-2-1: Welbeck starts, Ozil out: My Arsenal XI vs Chelsea

By on January 3, 2018

danny welbeck arsenal

Arsenal desperately need to collect all three points when Chelsea arrive at the Emirates Stadium later this evening. Here is the team I would like to see Arsene Wenger select….

Goalkeeper: Cech

Cech conceded a penalty YET AGAIN on Sunday but he’s still easily the best keeper we have and a lot better than David Ospina so he starts in goal.

Defence: Bellerin, Chambers, Mustafi, Maitland-Niles

Our problems at the back have deepened as Koscielny is a major doubt for tonight’s game after aggravating his Achilles injury during the 1-1 draw at West Brom on Sunday afternoon.

I warned in my match preview that it was a huge risk to play Koscielny and he needed a rest to prevent over-working his troublesome Achilles but unfortunately Arsene’s gamble back-fired.

Wenger has played with a back three in recent games but with Monreal also out injured, I’d go with a back four with Chambers alongside Mustafi in the middle.

Kolasinac has been ruled out for two weeks with an ankle injury so Maitland-Niles is set to come in on the left while I’d stick with Bellerin on the right despite his questionable form of late.

Midfield: Wilshere, Elneny, Xhaka

With four at the back I think we’d need to add some extra protection in midfield – plus we should match-up against Chelsea as I expect Conte to go with three central midfielders tonight.

Therefore, I’d bring in Elneny to play alongside Xhaka and Wilshere with Ramsey still out injured. It will be a big test of Jack’s fitness for him to play his third match in 7 days but we need to push him if he’s to earn that new contract.

Attack: Welbeck, Sanchez, Lacazette

Ozil missed the draw at West Brom with a knee injury and hasn’t been able to train this week so the German playmaker is expected to miss out tonight, which will be a huge blow.

Iwobi seems to be Wenger’s choice right now to fill-in but I don’t see any reason why he keeps getting regular game-time as his form has been woeful in recent months.

So I’d prefer to see Welbeck start against Chelsea with him and Sanchez offering support to Lacazette in attack. Giroud is ruled out with a hamstring injury so Walcott will be our main option from the bench.

This is the team I hope we see:

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