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Sanchez & Elneny to start? My Arsenal Line-Up To Face Stoke

By mac14 on January 15, 2016

Arsneal need to get back to winning ways against Stoke this weekend after letting two points slip at Liverpool in midweek. This is the side I think should start the match….

Goalkeeper: Cech

Petr Cech should keep his place in goal, obviously.

Defence: Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal

I thought Mertesacker was poor again in midweek. I know none of the defence covered themselves in glory but Per looks to be the weak link more often than not and I think Gabriel deserves more game time.

Otherwise, the rest of our usual back-four should play meaning Koscielny, Bellerin and Monreal should all keep their places.

Midfield: Ramsey, Flamini

Mohamed Elneny is available to make his debut by I think it would be a big risk throwing him straight in to action – particularly away at Stoke – so a place on the bench at best for the Egyptian international. Therefore, with Coquelin injured and Arteta not 100% match fit, we should stick with Flamini in the middle of the park.

Chambers put in another decent shift against Sunderland last week but this isn’t the game to be trying out experiments so Flamini should play alongside Aaron Ramsey in midfield this weekend.

Attack: Campbell, Ozil, Walcott

Sanchez is facing a late fitness test to see if he’s able to make his return from a hamstring injury but I personally wouldn’t take the risk. He’s obviously not 100% fit otherwise we wouldn’t be giving him a late test so leave him on the bench and give him 20 minutes to ease him back in.

Joel Campbell has been excellent in recent weeks so certainly deserves to keep his place and I’d stick with Walcott over Oxlade-Chamberlain on the other flank. Obviously Ozil should keep his place.

Striker: Giroud

Giroud was outstanding against Liverpool – despite missing a sitter – so hopefully he can continue that form on Sunday. He can give the likes of Shawcross as good as he gets on the physical front so Giroud will be an important focal point this weekend. Let’s hope he’s on his game again.

This would be my line-up: