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Sanchez Up Front: My Arsenal Starting XI To Play Besiktas

By on August 19, 2014

Arsenal face a crucial Champions League play off first leg away at Besiktas tonight. Here is my preferred starting eleven for the game:

Goalkeeper: No change needed here, Szczesny will start.

Defence: Kieran Gibbs has been ruled out for three weeks with a hamstring injury so Nacho Monreal is going to have to start at left-back. Thankfully it looks like Laurent Koscielny is fit after aggravating an Achilles injury so he should continue alongside Calum Chambers at the back.

Midfield: This is going to be a tricky away game so I’d stick with the trio of Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey in the middle of the park. Jack wasn’t at his best but this will be a great opportunity for him to bounce straight back. While this is the three I’d go with, I wouldn’t be surprised if Arsene brings Flamini in.

Attack: I’d like to see Alexis Sanchez start up front with The Ox coming in on the right hand side. Yaya Sanogo didn’t travel as he’s got a hamstring injury and although the likelihood is Olivier Giroud will come in, I’d prefer to see Sanchez through the middle with the added pace of Chamberlain down the right.

Here’s how my side would line-up:

It’s highly unlikely Arsene will pick this side, as he’ll probably start Giroud and perhaps Flamini in place of The Ox and Wilshere, but whatever team we put out we should have enough to secure a positive result ahead of next weeks second leg at the Emirates.

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