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Welbeck & Elneny start: My Arsenal XI vs Hull

By on February 9, 2017

mohamed elneny arsenal 2016

It’s time to get our season back on track as Arsenal welcome an in-form Hull side to the Emirates on Saturday lunchtime. This is the team I’d like to see Arsene Wenger go with….

Goalkeeper: Cech

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to back our current No.1 as there is no doubt his best days are behind him. Cech seems to be conceding soft goals more frequently this season and he dropped a huge clanger for Chelsea’s third goal last week. However, I personally think Ospina is just as likely to make a mistake and would still favour Petr between the sticks.

Defence: Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Gibbs

Our defence has taken a hammering over the past week and rightly so as we’ve been shambolic at times so let’s pray we improve this weekend.

The big question mark is over Bellerin as he’s facing a late test after being forced off following Alonso’s assault for Chelsea’s first goal. Wenger said earlier today that the club are following FA protocol and Hector has passed all his tests so far, so as long as he’s passed fit tomorrow I think he’ll start.

Koscielny and Mustafi will no doubt keep their places in the middle of defence and we need both to get their form back asap but I’d like to see Gibbs given a chance at left-back as Monreal has done little to suggest he deserves to keep the shirt of late.

Midfield: Ox-Chamberlain, Elneny

Xhaka serves the final game of his four-match ban but thankfully Elneny is back in contention after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations unscathed having recovered from a minor calf complaint.

The whole team was poor at Chelsea but Coquelin had a particularly bad game and I think Arsene should give Elneny a run out this weekend.

With Ramsey and Cazorla still out injured the player I’d go with alongside Elneny would be Oxlade-Chamberlain as he was one of the few who could hold his head high following the loss at Stamford Bridge.

If anyone deserves to keep his place it would be The Ox.

Attack: Walcott, Ozil, Sanchez, Welbeck

Danny Welbeck

I have no idea why Wenger chose to leave Welbeck on the bench against Chelsea. Why was he left out against Watford if he wasn’t being saved for Chelsea?  So I’d certainly go with Danny against Hull and I think his inclusion would make a huge difference.

Ozil was disappointing at Stamford Bridge and I’ve seen calls for him to be dropped. It’s a tough one because his form has been poor lately but he’s still one of the most talented players in our team and on his day he’s unplayable.

Sanchez and Walcott were also below their best against Chelsea but there’s no point making wholesale changes so we’ve got to give the players a chance to make amends.

Perez is another option but he missed the Chelsea game with a knock so his fitness isn’t clear while Giroud should be used as an impact substitute again.

This would be my line-up: