Arsenal host Southampton at Emirates on Wednesday evening for a rare midweek Premier League tie, and will do so severely lacking left backs thanks to injuries to Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal at the weekend.
Damian Martinez looks set to continue with Wojciech Szczesny struggling with his pelvis injury sustained against Manchester United. The Pole remains unavailable for another few days at least.
Laurent Koscielny returned and helped solidify the back line alongside Per Mertesacker at the weekend which was a massive boost. Calum Chambers will start but the issue is who covers at left back.
Mathieu Flamini has done a job before but we need him in central midfield with Mikel Arteta out injured. Hector Bellerin could well come in and slot in at right back, allowing Chambers to shift to the left. This seems the obvious choice. Don’t think Arsene Wenger will slot Bellerin in on the left as he’s the most inexperienced of the lot.
One thing that could throw a spanner in the works (in a good way) is the return of Monreal who may well have trained yesterday. Photos from the clubs training ground yesterday appear to capture the Spaniard in the background on a couple of occasions. Have a look here.
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Anyway..In midfield Aaron Ramsey looks a likely starter again alongside Flamini with Santi Cazorla ahead of the duo. Alexis Sanchez could be afforded a rest as he’s clearly looking fatigued. But with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain picking up an injury against the Baggies (although he did train yesterday), it’s likely Alexis will start again with Danny Welbeck and Olivier Giroud along the frontline.
Here is our predicted lineup. Share your thoughts below:
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