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3-4-1-2: Ramsey in, Ozil out | How Arsenal should line-up at Southampton

By on December 15, 2018

aaron ramsey arsenal

Arsenal can extend our unbeaten run to 23 matches with a positive result against Southampton at St Mary’s on Sunday afternoon. This is the line-up I’d like Unai Emery to select…

Goalkeeper: Leno

Leno should be recalled tomorrow after being rested for the Europa League win over Qarabag. I was surprised to see Cech not start on Thursday but he’ll be back on the bench at Southampton.

Defence: Monreal, Koscielny, Lichtsteiner

Arsenal has problems in defence as Sokratis is suspended while Mustafi is also on a one-game ban after collecting five yellow cards – although he’s also struggling with a hamstring injury. With Holding out for the season it leaves us short of options to make-up a back three.

Thankfully Koscielny made his long-awaited comeback on Thursday night so as long as the coaching staff feel he can start a second game in four days, we should see him in defence at Southampton. Monreal and Lichtsteiner are the other viable options without having to bring in some of the Arsenal youngsters.

Midfield: Bellerin, Torreira, Xhaka, Kolasinac

Bellerin and Kolasinac should obviously be recalled in the wing-back roles after being rested in the Europa League so Jenkinson and Maitland-Niles will make way following their rare starts on Thursday.

Torreira has been outstanding for Arsenal in recent weeks so he’ll obviously come back in to the side along with Xhaka. Guendouzi will have to make-do with a place on the bench whil Willock and Elneny will drop out after starting against Qarabag.

pierre-emerick aubameyang arsenal

Attack: Ramsey, Aubameyang, Lacazette

I hope Emery opts to go with Aubameyang and Lacazette through the middle with someone in the No.10 role behind as we looked excellent with that shape during the second half against Tottenham. It’s also the best way to get our main two strikers in the same team in their best positions.

Ordinarily, I’d  love to see Ozil in the hole behind the front two and think he’d have a lot of joy feeding Auba/Laca, however, he’s only just returned from almost a month out with an apparent back injury. Ozil barely got out of first gear during Arsenal’s win against Qarabag on Thursday night and I wanted to see a lot more desire from him to win his place back.

Therefore, I’d go with Ramsey in the No.10 as he’s back in contention after recovering from an ankle knock. Ozil can settle for a place on the bench along with Iwobi and Mkhitaryan.

Youngsters Nketiah and Saka were superb against Qarabag and they have big futures ahead of them but obviously they’ll make way against Southampton.

Here is the side I hope we’ll see:

football formations

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