The international break is nearly over and the premier league is back on Saturday. The Arsenal are the first team back in action as they welcome Manchester city to the emirates in the early kick off game. Arsene Wenger has never been a fan of the international break so early on in the season as we are normally very unlucky with injuries but none of players have seemed to pick up any knocks or injuries this time, so our squad is how it was versus Leicester.
The game is a repeat of the 2014 community shield final, a game that Arsenal won comfortably 3-0 and won their second piece of silverware in 2 months. However, we will be playing a much changed city side on Saturday and it won’t be nowhere near as easy as it was at Wembley.
We start the game on 5 points, but only a point behind Manchester city as they hope to recover from their shock 1-0 defeat at home to Stoke and they may have to do that without their leader Vincent Kompany as he picked up a calf injury when training for Belgium.
Arsenal struggled to turn up for the big games last season and that needs to change if we want to push on our challenge for the title, so here’s the team I think Arsene Wenger should start against the champions:
Goalkeeper: Wojciech Szczęsny
The golden glove winner of last season is yet to keep a clean sheet in the premier league so far but has made some very important saves to keep Arsenal in some games. Szczesny’s is probably the first name on the team sheet as a nailed on starter but with David Ospina coming back to full fitness now, he’ll have to show his worth in order to keep his place.
Back Four: Debuchy, Chambers, Koscielny, Monreal
Debuchy and Koscielny are no brainers, Debuchy has experience for France in big games and is of course are first choice right back. Koscielny has become one of the best centre backs not just in the league but in the world. He has all the attributes that a centre back needs and he will need to be at his very best to keep Sergio Aguero quite. I’ve chosen Calum Chambers over Per Mertesaker because in the big games last year, Per seemed to get exposed with his lack of pace and with Manchester city’s wealth of attacking players, the defence will need to be quick on the turn and that is what Mertesaker lacks. Monreal is normally our second choice left back but with Gibbs out injured he will have to play, but to be fair the Spanish left back has done a wonderful job in filling in for Gibbs so far and hopefully he can carry on his good form on Saturday.
Holding Midfielders: Flamini, Ramsey
Arsene has adopted a slightly new formation for Arsenal this season with a 4-1-4-1. However I don’t think this will work against the big sides and certainly not the best counter attacking sides. So, I would go back to the old 4-2-3-1 and the two holding Ramsey and Flamini. Arteta may not be ready just yet so our only other real defensive midfielder is Flamini and he will rarely go forward and just sit in front of the back four. Our top scorer this season Aaron Ramsey is a nailed on starter and I would play him slightly ahead of Flamini when going forward so he can drive with the ball and carry his runs inside the box, but when defending he will need to sit next to Flamini to protect the back four, especially if Yaya Toure features for city.
Attacking Midfielders: Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Alexis
This is such a big year for Oxlade-Chamberlain and I believe he deserves his chance in the big games this season. He started both games against Bayern Munich last year and was by far are best player in both legs. His pace can really hurt the city defence but he can also work hard and track back when he needs to do. Mesut Ozil hasn’t got the chance to play in his natural positon so far this season and I think he needs to playing in the hole to effect the game properly and not out wide. He will have plenty of pace beside him to be playing his perfect balls through to Alexis and the OX, which can cause city problems. Alexis was Arsenal’s best player against Leicester, he worked very hard and obviously scored his first premier league goal. Alexis taunted the city defence in the community shield and I hope he can do the same on Saturday, especially if there is no Vincent Kompany in their team.
Striker: Danny Welbeck
Danny Welbeck, Arsenal’s new number 23. The English striker struggled to settle into united first team and hardly scored goals, however I believe if we play him in the right position and use his ability wisely he can be very affective. Without Giroud and a young inexperienced striker in Sanogo, Welbeck is a nailed on starter for me, he could be devastating with Mesut Ozil behind him and his pace with cause city problems at the back. Without Kompany, City’s defence look very average and Demichelis is certainly a defender that Welbeck could get around and have a look on at goal.
I think this team is well capable of beating Manchester city and if all are players are on their game and step up against this big side, we could easily take 3 points of the champions. Are substitute bench will look very strong on Saturday and with the likes of Jack Wilshere, Lukas Podolski, Joel Campbell and Santi Cazorla, they can make a big impact on the game and if needed can change the momentum with their qualities.