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Kolasinac & Nketiah start as Emery rotates: The Arsenal XI that should face Brentford

By on September 26, 2018

Bernd-Leno-arsenal

Unai Emery is expected to make wholesale changes to his side as Arsenal take on Brentford in the Carabao Cup at the Emirates tonight. This is the line-up I’d like to see the boss select…

Goalkeeper: Leno

Bernd Leno should be given another chance to impress in goal. I’ve been calling for him to be our No.1 for weeks but fair play to Petr Cech, he was excellent against Everton at the weekend. If Leno is to claim the first team jersey, he’ll need to take opportunities like this.

Defence: Lichtsteiner, Holding, Mustafi, Kolasinac

We’ve been handed a big boost as Sead Kolasinac is back in full training so as long as he’s match fit he should come in for Nacho Monreal at left-back. The Spaniard has started our last six games in succession so could do with a rest and this is a good chance for Kolasinac to get some minutes under his belt.

Sokratis won’t be risked after suffering a dead leg against Everton so Rob Holding should come in and we may have to stick with Shkodran Mustafi as we don’t have any other centre-back options with Laurent Koscielny and Dinos Mavropanos out injured. However, we should see a change at right-back with Stephan Lichtsteiner coming in for Hector Bellerin.

Midfield: Guendouzi, Elneny, Smith-Rowe

Lucas Torreira was handed his full Premier League debut at the weekend so hopefully that’s him a regular in the first team from now on. Therefore, he should be rested with Mohamed Elneny coming in to the midfield tonight.

matteo guendouzi

Granit Xhaka is also expected to be rested so Matteo Guendouzi will be recalled in the middle of the park while youngster Emile Smith-Rowe should be given a chance to impress with Aaron Ramsey set to be given a breather.  The youngster is a huge prospect so I hope we see him starting against Brentford to see what he can do.

Attack: Welbeck, Iwobi, Nketiah

Hopefully Emery knows this competition is a chance to rest your key men so the likes of Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette should be nowhere near the starting eleven this evening.

Danny Welbeck is almost certain to start in attack but with Henrikh Mkhitaryan a major doubt with an ankle injury, the former Manchester United man may have to make do with a place out wide.

That would leave a void needing to be filled up front and I’d love to see Eddie Nketiah given a chance. He’s been banging in goals for fun with the U23’s and made his impact in this competition with the first team last season.

The final place should go to Alex Iwobi. He’s enjoying a good run of form right now so this is another chance for him to stake his claim at a regular starting spot.

Here is the side I hope we’ll see:

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