The north London club play host to title chasing Manchester City at the Emirates on Saturday evening and this is the starting XI we expect Gunners head coach Arsene Wenger to go with …
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GK: Wojciech Szczesny
The Poland international has faced calls for him to be axed in recent weeks in the aftermath of the north Londoners’ 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Chelsea, however, it looks like manager Arsene Wenger will at least stick with his young keeper for the visit of Man City on Saturday evening.
RB: Bacary Sagna
The France international has enjoyed yet another impressive and consistent campaign on the right-hand side of the Gunners back four as the 31-year-old raids up and down that flank, something the home team will need the Frenchman to do much of against the Blues this weekend.
CB: Per Mertesacker
The big and imposing Germany international has been a rock-s0lid presence at the heart of the Gunnners back four throughout this campaign, although one gets the feeling that he will need to be at his very best when the north-west giants come to town on Saturday.
CB: Thomas Vermaelen
The north Londoners’ skipper continues to cover for the injured Laurent Koscielny at the back for Arsenal following the France international’s untimely injury in the first half during the Gunners’ recent 6-0 mauling at Stamford Bridge.
LB: Kieran Gibbs
The young Englishman did feature after all on the left-hand side of Arsenal’s defence in their 2-2 draw with struggling Swansea City at the Emirates on Tuesday night after having his red card at Chelsea last weekend overturned on appeal by The Football Association.
RM: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Like his compatriot Gibbs, the England international was also allowed to feature against the Swans in midweek after the suspension which was coming his way for handling the ball in the area at the Bridge was also reversed, and Arsenal will be grateful to have the youngster available too.
CM: Mike Arteta
The Basque has come in for some criticism in recent weeks and now aged 32, there are certainly some questions being raised about the holding midfielder’s mobility in the really big matches against fast opponents, so it will be interesting to see how he copes against City then.
CM: Mathieu Flamini
The former France international will surely have a key role to play against attack-minded City at the Emirates this weekend, with the defensive midfielder set to be putting out fires in front of the home team’s back line.
LM: Santi Cazorla
The diminutive Spain wide man will need to be at the very top of his game against the Blues on Saturday evening if Arsene Wenger’s side are to stand any chance whatsoever of getting the win they need to get themselves back in the race for the title.
AM: Tomas Rosicky
Without doubt one if the north London club’s best performers in what has been a tricky past few weeks, with the experienced Czech Republic international responding in style to the award of his new contract.
ST: Olivier Giroud
Another who has appeared to be off the pace this month, perhaps a reflection of all the games that the Frenchman has had to feature in so far this season as Arsenal’s lone front man, a role he will be again asked to take on against City on Saturday.