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4-2-3-1: Ozil starts, no Mkhitaryan | The Arsenal line-up that would beat Tottenham

By on December 1, 2018

mesut ozil arsenal 2018

Arsenal can secure the bragging rights in north London and boost our top four hopes with a win over Tottenham at the Emirates on Sunday. This is the line-up I’d like Unai Emery to select…

Goalkeeper: Leno

Bernd Leno has established himself as our No.1 with some excellent displays of late so no doubt he should come in for Petr Cech between the sticks on Sunday afternoon after the 36-year-old got a run-out in midweek.

Defence: Bellerin, Mustafi, Sokratis, Kolasinac

Emery rested his big guns for the win over Vorskla in the Europa League on Thursday night so the first team players will be well-rested. The boss went with a back three at Bournemouth but I hope he goes with a four against Spurs.

Hector Bellerin should replace Stephan Lichtsteiner at right-back while Sead Kolasinac will come in for Ainsley Maitland-Niles on the left. Unfortunately Nacho Monreal is still out with a hamstring injury while Laurent Koscielny isn’t match fit to play in the Premier League yet.

Rob Holding started against Vorskla in midweek so I’d favour Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi in the middle of defence. Sokratis has struggled to put a run of games together in recent weeks due to a niggling injury but I think he’s our best centre-back so hopefully he gets the nod tomorrow.

Midfield: Torreira, Xhaka

Matteo Guendouzi was in good form once again on Thursday night but I don’t think there can be any debate over who should start in midfield as Lucas Torreira and Granit Xhaka are forming a fine partnership. I still think Xhaka can be a liability at times but he’s the best option we’ve got right now alongside Torreira.

pierre-emerick aubameyang arsenal

Attack: Aubameyang, Ozil, Iwobi, Lacazette

Alexandre Lacazette is expected to shake-off a minor groin problem to start up front having missed the last two matches while Alex Iwobi should come in to the attack as he’s improved immensely under Emery this season.

The big question is whether Mesut Ozil will start. The German playmaker didn’t even get off the bench against Bournemouth after Emery questioned his ability to cut it in a tough away game. Spurs are known to work hard and will press us all over the pitch so Emery may feel Ozil will struggle tomorrow. However, I just don’t see how we can leave him out of a NLD at the Emirates. We have to win this game and Ozil is one of our best players so he should start in my opinion.

Emery has favoured Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Iwobi on the wings in some ‘tough’ games this season but I don’t see how he can leave Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of the line-up. He’s a huge goal threat so I’d go with him out wide and Miki on the bench.

Obviously Danny Welbeck isn’t available after undergoing ankle surgery but the likes of Emile Smith Rowe, Joe Willock and Eddie Nketiah did us proud on Thursday night so they could be options from the bench.

Here is the side I hope we’ll see:

football formations

I think this is currently our best available eleven and I’d be confident we’d get all three points at home against the sc*m if Emery fields this line-up tomorrow afternoon.

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