There’s nothing better than having to travel away from home after an exhausting and humiliating away day in the Champions League, right? Arsenal travel to Villa Park in the hopes of getting things back on track after what has been a less-than impressive start to the season. Injuries, individuals out of form and players being played out of position all need to be overcome in what is sure to be a tough game against the side second in the table.
So how will Arsenal line-up?
In goal Wojciech Szczesny will continue, with David Ospina likely to taste his first action for Arsenal on Tuesday night in the Capital One Cup.
In defence, Arsenal’s lack of options will see them start with Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker and Kieran Gibbs. Calum Chambers will come in at right-back for Hector Bellerin.
In front of the back line Wenger has a decision. Does he start Mikel Arteta, who was awful on Tuesday night, or turn back to Mathieu Flamini, who has his own limitations? Neither are ideal at present but they’re all we have.
The midfield also provides Wenger with something of a problem as well. Aaron Ramsey is woefully out of form, Jack Wilshere picked up an ankle knock and while he trained yesterday, resting him would do no harm either. Santi Cazorla certainly has done enough to warrant being brought back in to the starting line-up and Tomas Rosicky has hardly seen any game-time this season. I don’t see Rosicky starting, however, and expect Wenger to persevere with Ramsey and Wilshere.
Danny Welbeck will continue to lead the line and Alexis Sanchez will keep his spot. The next big question for Wenger is what to do with Mesut Ozil. Undoubtedly the most talented member of the squad, he is another who is badly out of form and not adapting to his role out wide. The Arsenal manager could drop him or rest him and bring in Lukas Podolski, Joel Campbell or, more realistically, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who not only deserves a start but has shown that he makes a difference to the thrust of the side when he is involved.
Wenger certainly has some decisions to make ahead of the game on Saturday but I feel that we will see a side largely similar to that which was given a lesson in Germany.
Let’s hope they learned it.
Source: Metro UK
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