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4-3-2-1: Ozil out, 18-year-old starts: My Arsenal XI vs Nottingham Forest

By on January 5, 2018

Reiss Nelson Arsenal

Arsene Wenger is expected to rotate his squad when we take on Nottingham Forest in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday. Here is the team I would like to see the boss select….

Goalkeeper: Ospina

It’s FA cup-time again so we should see Ospina recalled as he’s our designated keeper in the cup competitions this year. Cech will get a rest so he can practice saving penalties.

Defence: Debuchy, Chambers, Mertesacker, Maitland-Niles

Koscielny is once again ruled out with an Achilles injury while Monreal is still sidelined with an ankle problem and it remains to be seen whether either player will be back for the Chelsea game on Wednesday.

Wenger has gone with a back three in recent games but given our lack of options in defence I’d like to see us go to a back four on Sunday afternoon.

Mertesacker should come in to the side and I’d give Chambers a chance to redeem himself as he was woeful in midweek. Mustafi and Holding can therefore be rested for the League Cup semi final.

Debuchy hasn’t let us down when he’s played this season so I’d give him another chance at right-back but it’s going to be interesting to see what the boss does on the left.

Kolasinac is on the sidelines along with Monreal so Miatland-Niles is currently our first choice left-back/wing-back. It would be a risk to play him on Sunday but we don’t have too many other options.

Midfield: Coquelin, Elneny, Iwobi

Wilshere has to be rested as he’s completed 90 minutes in our last seven games in all competitions while Xhaka has been ruled out with a minor groin problem.

Ramsey is also still nursing a hamstring injury so I’d go with Coquelin in the holding role and Elneny and Iwobi playing slightly further forward in a midfield three.

Attack: Walcott, Nelson, Welbeck

Ozil has been in fine form lately and it’s never good to take a player out when he’s playing well but I’d certainly rest the German international this weekend. Sanchez and Lacazette should also be given a break so it will be all-change in attack.

With Giroud out with a hamstring injury it means Welbeck should be given a chance to impress through the middle and I’ll look forward to seeing how he performs.

Walcott has found first team football hard to come by this season but he should be given another run-out in attack on Sunday while I’d like to see the final position go to Nelson.

The 18-year-old has played most of his first team football in the right wing-back position this season but I’d love to see him given a chance in his more natural role further forward.

This is the team I hope we see: