How we expected Arsenal to line up for their Premier League clash against Aston Villa this afternoon.
Arsenal travel to Aston Villa this afternoon under some pressure to get a result against Paul Lambert’s unbeaten side, after a poor midweek defeat against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League followed three successive Premier League draws for the Gunners, who are winless since a narrow opening day triumph over Crystal Palace.
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With long term injuries including Nacho Monreal, Mathieu Debuchy and Olivier Giroud, the Gunners could do without this predicted XI picking up any more knocks in a tough assignment at Villa Park:
Goalkeeper and Defence
GK) Wojciech Szczesny – The Pole is a clear number one for club and, finally, country.
RB) Calum Chambers – Should be well enough to replace Hector Bellerin, the young Spaniard who deputised in Dortmund.
CB) Laurent Koscielny – Arsenal really need the composed Frenchman to stay fit as their defensive injury crisis takes hold.
CB) Per Mertesacker – Much could be said about Per Mertesacker, his central defensive partner in crime.
LB) Kieran Gibbs – Back to fitness and vital for Arsenal with Monreal ruled out.
Central Midfield
CM) Mathieu Flamini – The Frenchman seems to have become manager Arsene Wenger’s favoured option in the anchoring role recently.
CM) Aaron Ramsey – Was quiet in Dortmund but remains a key cog in the machine that Wenger is trying to get oiled.
ACM) Jack Wilshere – Was superb in a more advanced role against Manchester City last weekend and is likely to be given the license to play there again.
Forwards
ARM) Alexis Sanchez – This summer’s big marquee buy is another player who needs to put a quiet evening in Signal Iduna park firmly behind him.
ALM) Mesut Ozil – Likely to be given another chance in a wide position, but real doubts remain over Ozil’s effectiveness out of a central pocket of space.
SC) Danny Welbeck – Having missed relatively simple chances against both City and Dortmund, £16m man Welbeck really could do with a maiden Arsenal goal.