Friday, March 29, 2024

Coquelin To Start, Ozil Bench: How Arsenal Should Line-Up vs. Stoke

Arsenal will be looking to make amends after losing at the Britannia just over a month ago. That day the Gunners started very poorly and will need to come out of the blocks flying against a Stoke side who are unbeaten in their last three league matches.

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Arsene Wenger can welcome back a trio of crucial players for Sunday’s fixture. Olivier Giroud returns from suspension, whist Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil will return from their respective injury lay offs. For the first time this season, Arsenal can choose from a completely fit defence  whilst Wenger also has a big decision to make in terms of who he starts in-goal, with Ospina vying for a starting place after Szczesny’s smoking fine.

Despite Szczesny’s recent disciplinary action I still expect to start him as number one. Personally I would love to see Ospina start as I believe he has all the credentials to make a top goalkeeper. However, Szczesny is the clubs no.1 and after one poor performance it would be harsh to completely freeze him out.

My defence from right to left would be Mathieu Debuchy, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny and Kieran Gibbs. This is definitely our best and strongest back four and hopefully they can now string some games together to build up a better understanding with one another.

Despite Aaron Ramsey being back I would leave him on the bench for this one. In his place I’d stick with Francis Coquelin, who has looked very composed in the position taking his chance very well. Alongside him I would also play the returning Mathieu Flamini, who will add more solidarity in the centre of the park.

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Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain has been in sparkling form of late and I’d start him from the left to accommodate Alexis Sanchez down the right-hand side. It’s excellent that Mesut Ozil is back, but like Ramsey I feel it would be better if he started on the bench for this fixture. Santi Cazorla has been brilliant of late, and deserves to keep his place.

With Welbeck still a doubt then the obvious choice up-front is Olivier Giroud. His physical presence will come in very handy against Stoke and it’s good to have him back after his ridiculous sending off Vs QPR.

My team vs. QPR:

Wojciech Szczesny

Mathieu Debuchy             Per Mertesacker                  Laurent Koscielny                  Kieran Gibbs

Mathieu Flamini               Francis Coquelin

Alexis Sanchez                                 Santi Cazorla                            Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Olivier Giroud

 

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