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Koscielny & Sanchez Out: The Arsenal XI that should face Watford

By on October 15, 2015

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The interlull is finally over and we can get back to proper football when Arsenal head to Vicarage Road to take on Watford on Saturday night. This is the side I’d like to see Arsene Wenger go with:

Goalkeeper: Cech

No decision to be made here. Petr Cech has to start EVERY game.

Defence: Bellerin, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Monreal

Koscielny faces a late fitness test after recovering from a hamstring injury but I wouldn’t rush him back too soon. Mertesacker and Gabriel were excellent against Man Utd so I’d keep them in defence and save Kos for the Bayern Munich game.

Bellerin has been in superb form this season and he’s now arguably the best right-back in the league, so he should continue to keep Debuchy out the side.

Monreal has firmly established himself ahead of Gibbs at left-back and there’s no reason for that to change this weekend.

Midfield: Cazorla, Coquelin

These two have been our first choice pairing in the middle of the park for several months now and they’ve struck up a great understanding.

It means Ramsey doesn’t get to play in his favoured position but there’s not a lot Arsene can do about that right now while Cazorla and Coquelin continue playing so well together.

Attack: The Ox, Ozil, Ramsey

So Ramsey will have to continue on the right-wing. I’m not a huge fan of him out there but I see the benefits, especially away from home.

Sanchez played 180 minutes for Chile over the international break despite nursing a hip injury, so he’s going to be assessed by the Arsenal medical team.

I personally don’t think we should risk him as those two long-haul matches for his country are going to have taken their toll so I’d leave him on the bench and give him a well earned rest.

Striker: Walcott

Theo is in excellent form right now and although Giroud bagged a brace for France the other night, I’d definitely go with Walcott up top.

This is the side I’d select but in reality I wouldn’t be surprised if the boss started Kos and Alexis. Let’s hope if he does, it doesn’t backfire with them aggravating their knocks.

Either way, we should have enough to beat Watford and build on our win over Man Utd before the international break.