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4-3-1-2: Sanchez & Monreal dropped: My Arsenal XI vs Newcastle

By on December 14, 2017

danny welbeck arsenal

Arsenal simply have to collect three points and put the pressure on the top four when we entertain Newcastle on Saturday afternoon.  Here is the team I would like to see Arsene Wenger select….

Goalkeeper: Cech

Cech got away with a couple of risky moments to secure a clean sheet last night and I’d stick with him between the sticks on Saturday.

Defence: Bellerin, Koscielny, Mustafi, Kolasinac

Finally, Wenger ditched the back three and overall I think the back four did okay at West Ham. Obviously there were still a couple of times when we did our best to gift them a goal but I’d certainly stick with it this weekend.

However, I thought Wenger’s selection was strange at the London Stadium as Monreal is NOT a central defender in a back two so I’d leave him out.  If Mustafi passes his late fitness test on a thigh injury then he should return alongside Koscielny but if the German is once again ruled out then I’d give Holding a go.

Bellerin continued his poor form with another average display at West Ham but we have very little option than to stick with him as Debuchy isn’t up to it anymore.

Maitland-Niles did well on his first Premier League start but I feel sorry for him playing at left-back as it’s not his natural position. If Wenger wants to try him out, why not play him in the defensive midfield role? Anyway, I’d recall Kolasinac this weekend.

Midfield: Xhaka, Elneny, Wilshere

It was great to see Wilshere back playing 90 minutes in the Premier League and he was arguably our best player last night so I’d love to see him keep his place – as long as he’s fit to start for the second time in four days.

Xhaka was bang average against West Ham but again I don’t see anyone better waiting in the wings so we’ll have to stick with the Swiss international and hope his form improves.

I think Xhaka might be helped if we had someone like Elneny playing in the midfield three. Ideally when Ramsey is fit he’d play with Xhaka and Wilshere but for now I’d give Elneny a run out.

Attack: Ozil, Welbeck, Lacazette

While I was glad to see Wenger go with a back four and midfield three last night our front three were virtually non-existent so I’d mix things up against Newcastle.

Sanchez is done for me. He’s putting in the bare minimum effort and doesn’t deserve to keep his place anymore. Wenger finally subbed him last night but I’d go one better and put him on the bench.

Ozil played too deep against the Hammers so I’d like Arsene to try and get the best out of him by playing him in the No.10 role. With three midfielders behind him Ozil could concentrate on doing what he does best in the final third.

The big change would be to deploy two strikers. Obviously Lacazette should be recalled as it was mental to drop him last night and Giroud could be a solid option to play in a front two.

However, I still think he’s best suited to being an impact sub so I’d like to see Welbeck alongside Lacazette. With those two making runs and stretching the Newcastle defence, and Ozil and Wilshere supplying the balls, I think we’d have a lot of joy.

Iwobi was woeful against the Hammers so I’d drop him to the bench where he’d be joined by the likes of Giroud and Walcott.

This is the team I hope we see:

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