How Arsenal could lineup against West Ham in their matchup this weekend.
Arsenal will be looking to build on their 2-1 victory over QPR and finish the year in style when they visit Upton Park to take on West Ham this weekend.
A win for the Gunners would see them leap frog the Hammers who have had an unexpectedly good season, sitting 5th after 18 games. However, Sam Allardyce’s side will want to bounce back quickly after they were well beaten at Chelsea on Boxing day.
CaughtOffside take a look at the starting XI Arsene Wenger is most likely to select.
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GK) Wojciech Szczesny
The Arsenal number one once again be between the sticks, his 16th start of the season.
RB) Mathieu Debuchy
The Frenchman was back in more familiar surroundings against QPR, starting from his favoured right back position rather than covering in central defence and he will keep his place on Sunday.
CB) Laurent Koscielny
It’s been a frustrating season for both Arsenal and Koscielny. His bouts on the sidelines have corresponded with his side’s periods of poor form showing just what a vital cog in the machine he is.
Hopefully if he returns as expected against West Ham it will be on a more permanent basis.
CB) Per Mertesacker
If Koscielny is back, you’d expect that to do wonders for he game of the big German who like the team has struggled without the Frenchman.
LB) Kieran Gibbs
Gibbs will be preferred to Monreal at left back once again in-case the Spaniard is needed from the bench as cover for centre-back.
CM) Mathieu Flamini
The Frenchman looked more composed against QPR than we’ve seen recently and stopped a late effort on the line to ensure the Gunners ran out 2-1 victors.
LM) Santi Cazorla
His resurgence in the middle for the Gunners will come as welcome relief to Arsene Wenger as the number of midfielders he has available continues to dwindle.
RM) Tomas Rosicky
A surprise addition against QPR but showed Arsenal the pace, presence and attacking verve from midfield they’ve been so badly missing all season.
RW) Theo Walcott
With Olivier Giroud now suspended for three games for his moment of madness against QPR, it would be the perfect opportunity to break Theo Walcott back into the Arsenal side against an opposition he has a history scoring again.
CF) Danny Welbeck
In Giroud’s absence, Welbeck will be allowed into his preferred position through the middle but Arsenal will have to change their style of holding up play through the big man up top as Welbeck may struggle to compete with West Ham’s powerful centre back pair.
LW) Alexis Sanchez
Despite admitting Alexis needed a rest, Arsene Wenger seems reluctant to bench a player who has been the lynchpin of the Gunners season. He’ll just have to hope it’s not one game too far and regret his gamble.