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4-2-3-1: Ramsey & Iwobi start, Aubameyang out | How Arsenal should line-up v Brighton

By on December 24, 2018

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Arsenal need to maintain the pressure on the top four by coming home with all three points when we take on Brighton at the Amex on Boxing Day. This is the line-up I’d like Unai Emery to select…

Goalkeeper: Leno

Leno has been in a rough patch of form lately but I think it’s important we stand by him and let him grow as a player so I’d stick with him against Brighton and leave Cech on the bench.

Defence: Lichtsteiner, Koscielny, Sokratis, Kolasinac

Monreal is a doubt for the game after picking up a hamstring injury against Burnley. If he doesn’t make it, then I’d switch to a back four with Kolasinac at left-back and Lichtsteiner at right-back in the absence of Bellerin – who’s still injured.

Arsenal have very few defensive options so we shouldn’t just mash together a back three for the sake of it and the Xhaka experiment hasn’t worked. Mustafi is a major doubt as he’s yet to return to full training following a hamstring injury and obviously Holding is still out so I’d go with Koscielny alongside Sokratis in the middle.

Midfield: Torreira, Xhaka

Torreira is one yellow card away from a one-match ban that would rule him out of Arsenal’s trip to Liverpool at the weekend so it’s a risk to play him on Boxing Day. However, he’s vital to our team so I’d start him and pray he gets through without a booking.

Xhaka will hopefully start in midfield as he’s wasted at the back meaning Guendouzi should be on the bench with Elneny also making way following a rare start at the weekend.

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Attack: Ozil, Iwobi, Ramsey, Lacazette

Ozil returned to the Arsenal starting eleven with a bang at the weekend as he created two of the goals and his pass in the build-up to Aubameyang’s opener was world class. The German playmaker now needs to do the business consistently to show Emery he deserves a regular starting spot.

Auba got another two goals on Saturday and he’s one of our most important players but I’d actually give him a rest for this one ahead of the Liverpool game. That would allow Lacazette to lead the line up front and the Frenchman should be keen to impress after a frustrating few games.

Unfortunately, the club confirmed some terrible news today with Mkhitaryan ruled out for six weeks with a fractured metatarsal so with Welbeck obviously out for the season, we’re low on options in the final third for the foreseeable future.

Iwobi did well after coming off the bench to score during Arsenal’s win over Burnley so he could start on the left while Ramsey is also pushing for a recall. I’d start him on the right of an attacking three alongside Ozil and Iwobi.

Here is the side I hope we’ll see:

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