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4-2-3-1: AMN, Nelson & Mkhitaryan to start: My Arsenal XI to face Man Utd

By on April 27, 2018

Arsenal are expected to rest our key players ahead of the return leg against Atletico Madrid when we take on Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. Here is the team I would like to see Arsene Wenger select….

Goalkeeper: Cech

Wenger went with Ospina in the Europa League so if he’s going to be the bosses choice for the second leg, we should start Cech on Sunday.

Defence: Chambers, Mustafi, Holding, Kolasinac

As much as it will be painful to take a beating against Mourinho’s United this weekend, we have to prioritise the Madrid game so I’d rest all of our key men on Sunday.

Koscielny may not be as important as he used to be but we still need to protect him while there is no way Monreal or Bellerin should be anyway near the first team this weekend.

Therefore, I’d bring Chambers in at right back, Kolasinac can start on the left while Holding should come in alongside Mustafi in the middle of the back four.

Midfield: Maitland-Niles, Xhaka

Ramsey is going to be a vital player against Atletico so I’d certainly rest his legs at Old Trafford while there is no point risking Wilshere either as we all know he’s susceptible to picking up a knock or three.

Xhaka’s form has been excellent in recent weeks but he’s the least likely to pick up an injury of our three midfielders so he could be risked against United.

With Elneny ruled out for the rest of the season it opens the door for Maitland-Niles to get a game and I’d like to see how he does against a top side away from home.

Attack: Nelson, Mkhitaryan, Iwobi, Aubameyang

Aubameyang should obviously play as he won’t feature in Europe so Lacazette needs to be left out as he’s a vitally important player if we’re to get a result at Madrid.

Ozil should be rested too as we’ll need him on top form in Spain while Welbeck can also be given a breather against his former club.

We’ve been handed a timely boost with Wenger confirming today that Mkhitaryan is back in contention so I’d give him some minutes to get him fit ahead of the Atletico game.

Iwobi can get a recall in attack and I’d give teenager Reiss Nelson a chance to impress in his favoured attacking midfield position.

It’s not the strongest line-up but this is the team I hope we see: