Quantcast
Home   >   Opinions   >   3-4-2-1: 17-Year-Old To Start: My Arsenal starting XI to face BATE

3-4-2-1: 17-Year-Old To Start: My Arsenal starting XI to face BATE

By on December 6, 2017

Reiss Nelson Arsenal

Arsenal wrap-up our Europa League group stage campaign when we host BATE Borisov at the Emirates on Thursday night. Here is the team I’d like to see Arsene Wenger select….

Goalkeeper: Ospina

Ospina is available again after recovering from a groin injury that hampered him last month so he should take his place in goal with Cech obviously rested.

Defence: Chambers, Mertesacker, Holding

Chambers was forced to play in the right wing-back role against Cologne but it’s safe to say it didn’t work so I’d like to see him return in the back three tomorrow night.

Mertesacker should marshall the side once again while Holding should be given another chance to impress with Koscielny and Monreal rested. Mustafi is nursing a thigh injury that forced him off against Man Utd at the weekend but he’d have been left out anyway.

Midfield: Nelson, Wilshere, Coquelin, Maitland-Niles

Due to our options in attack, and the fact I prefer to see him in the middle, I hope Wenger gives Wilshere a chance in central midfield. Despite the boss deploying him further forward this season, I think it’s still his best position and his only realistic hope of forcing his way in to the first team on a regular basis.

I’d go with Coquelin ahead of Elneny alongside Wilshere while we should see Maitland-Niles start in the left wing-back role once again with Ramsey, Xhaka and Kolasinac rested.

Obviously Bellerin will also be given a breather and I hope Nelson comes back in to the side. The 17-year-old was only fit enough to be a substitute against Cologne due to illness so let’s hope Wenger gives him another run out from the start tomorrow.

Attack: Welbeck, Walcott, Giroud

Walcott is set to start after recovering from a virus and he badly needs a positive performance as it’s been a poor campaign from Theo so far this season.

Welbeck needs to get some match fitness under his belt having recently returned from injury so I’d go with him in attack and have the likes of Iwobi on the bench.

Giroud also needs to improve on his match sharpness as his lack of minutes are starting to show. He’s looked rusty when he’s come on in the league and hasn’t been doing much in the cups lately so let’s hope for a better performance from him tomorrow.

Lacazette, Sanchez and Ozil will all be rested but I hope we see Nketiah at some point in the second half.

This is the team I’d like to see: