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3-4-2-1: Ozil out, Wilshere to start: My Arsenal starting XI to face Huddersfield

By on November 28, 2017

jack wilshere arsenal 2015

Arsenal can tighten their grip in the top four with a win when we welcome Huddersfield to the Emirates tomorrow night. Here is the team I would like to see Arsene Wenger select….

Goalkeeper: Cech

Cech was superb again during the 1-0 win over Burnley so there is no reason to even think about changing goalkeepers.

Defence: Koscielny, Mustafi, Monreal

It finally looks like we have a top class back three. Since Mustafi returned to fitness he has been immense and he’s been a real rock at the heart of the defence so he should certainly keep his place.

I’m still not convinced the right-side of the back three is Koscielny’s best position but it seems to be working so there is no need to change things.

Obviously Monreal should retain his spot on the left so the likes of Holding and Mertesacker will fight for a place on the bench.

Midfield: Bellerin, Ramsey, Xhaka, Kolasinac

Ideally we’d rest Bellerin and/or Kolasinac for this game as we have a HUGE clash with Manchester United coming up on Saturday but unfortunately we don’t have any viable alternatives to call upon.

Reiss Nelson and Maitland-Niles have played in the wing-back roles in the cup competitions but I don’t think they are ready for the Premier League just yet – which makes you worry about what would happen if one of Bellerin or Kolasinac got injured?!

Ramsey and Xhaka were decent at Burnley but again I don’t really think we have a lot of competition in the middle of the park as neither Elneny or Coquelin should be near our first team.

Attack: Wilshere, Sanchez, Lacazette

Ozil missed the Burnley game with illness and although he was able to resume training today, I doubt he’s 100% so I’d put him on the bench ahead of the United game.

That means there is a spot open in attack. Iwobi didn’t take his chance at the weekend and he’s a doubt with a dead leg so I think it’s time to give Wilshere his first start in the league.

He did well when he came on against Burnley and has been our best player in the cups – plus he’s easily the most suitable replacement for Ozil we have in the squad.

Sanchez had a mixed game at the weekend but he’s arguably our best player so he just can’t be left out while I hope we see Lacazette given another chance up front.

This should be a good opportunity for the Frenchman to get on the score-sheet so I’d go with him up top and Giroud on the bench while Welbeck is also another option to call upon in the second half.

Walcott is back in contention after recovering from a virus that’s hampered him for the last two weeks but a place on the bench beckons for the out-of-favour attacker.

This is the team I hope we’ll see: