It’s happened again. It’s happened again, Tottenham Hotspur, it’s happened again!
Monday night saw the return of St.Totteringham day, the day of which Arsenal finish above North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur mathematically on points.
The impressive win against Hull on Monday was a great show of character, as the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey were able to show their potential, as we cruised home to a 3-1 victory. Hull had seen a recent rise in form, with 2 wins under their belt, so it is a great sight to see Arsenal brush the form team to one side. We now return home to play Swansea City on Monday night once more, to which would look like a much harder fixture on paper. But who should Arsene play in the starting 11?
Goalkeeper : David Ospina
With the likes of Iker Casillas and Petr Cech being linked to a move to the Emirates, the future of Wojciech Szczęsny is still up in the air. Although he may start the FA Cup final as he has done all season in cup competitions, I feel like for now, we just need to secure 2nd place. David Ospina has been an fantastic signing, and has really brought confidence to the defence. Therefore, I would like Ospina to start in order to end the season strongly.
Left Back : Kieran Gibbs
Due to Nacho Monreal’s form this season, and the continuous injuries he has, Kieran Gibbs has struggled to really gain a foothold in the team. He started the season strongly, with Monreal playing central, but the purchase of Brazilian Central defender Gabriel in January has forced Gibbs out of the team. I feel that for Gibbs to grow as a player, he needs to play more (Of course) but also in general to be given the chance to play. At home, with the team in a healthy position, is where I think he can get his chance.
Centre-back Parings : Laurent Koscienly and Gabriel
Everytime I write a possible lineup for Fresh Arsenal, I always consider the defenders to be one of the most important role in the team. As of recently, I have always left out Per Mertesacker and resulted in a replacement in the form of Gabriel. For a team that beat us earlier this season, we’ve learnt that Montero and Routledge are very fast, and will make the defence work hard all game. Unfortunately, Callum Chambers was the victim of our visit to Wales, and Per isn’t too different to Callum. In terms of build and presence, both the German and English internationals would be a great partnership with their mixture of height and experience. However, I would like to see a future of Gabriel and Laurent in he near future so this partnership can grow. This rings bells of partnerships of old, where a defender was replaced by an inexperienced but now better player. Tomas Vermaelen anyone?
Right Back : Mathieu Debuchy
It’s been very difficult for Mathieu. I unfortunately was there to see his injury against Stoke, and I was close enough to hear the noise he made. He wasn’t the greatest player at Newcastle, but he however played very well when he was given the chance. But his season has been plagued with the rise of Hector Bellerin, as well as his shoulder injury, to which have kept him on the bench for the majority of the season. Although an overlooked position, the right back spot can win or lose a game, so I feel that Bellerin could be rested, while Debuchy can get a short run in the team.
CDM parings : Francis Coquelin and Santiago Cazorla
This central role seems very difficult to predict (Apart from Francis Coquelin). Unchanged in 4, Arsene seems happy to play Santi in this holding role, as he is getting the results he needs. With an world class assist for Aaron Ramsey on Monday, Cazorla is looking better and better with age. But does he need a rest? If so, the likes of Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Tomas Rosicky are all ready to take his place. I personally would like to see Tomas Rosicky, however the 34 year old looks likely to leave due to his game time. Either way, we have the strongest midfield depth in 10 years, and Arsene has an almost fully fit team.
Left Winger : Danny Welbeck
The Manchester United game looms ever closer, and this could spark the return of Danny Welbeck. After scoring the winner in the FA Cup Quarter-final tie, the Englishman has struggled to grab a few goals, and so a start here could provide the much needed confidence he needs. On the other hand, Theo Walcott could also feature, as he is in an identical position to ‘Dat Guy’
Central Playmaker : Mesut Ozil
I have probably watched the Mesut Ozil ‘flick’ pass Vine about 20 times and I’m still smiling. He has finally got the confidence to end the season well. If he had started the season this well, he may have even of given us a boost in the title challenge. But I digress, Mesut has been fantastic, and he seems to have moved on from the ‘Media Voodoo’ created towards him. The £42million ‘flop’ is finally showing us what he is made of, and the future looks bright for the German and for Arsenal FC.
Right Winger : Alexis Sanchez
So let me get this straight. Arsenal paid £35million for Alexis Sanchez? I think we have just found the bargain of the century. Hitting his 24th goal in all competitions on Monday night, the Chilean has been welcomed into London with open arms. His flair and determination to play the game he loves really is a commitment that’s admirable. I’m genuinely excited to see him on the ball, and it gets me thinking…what if we had a few more South Americans? Imagine 3 versions of Alexis running at the defence!! There’s no doubt that he should be played this game, and with the German magician in the centre, I think he could bag a goal this game too.
Striker : Olivier Giroud
I would enjoy seeing Welbeck or Walcott as a starting striker, but with the FA Cup Final looming, the confidence of Giroud is going to be key. With 17 goals in all competitions, Giroud’s contrasting style to Alexis would be a great weapon, as the two attackers provide different runs and skills. Once again, the team needs to build confidence, so Giroud will most likely play.