Wenger To Make 8 Changes: Predicted Arsenal XI To Face Southampton

Arsenal will be looking to book their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup when we take on Southampton at St Mary’s on Saturday evening.

Here is the side I think Arsene Wenger will select for the game:

Goalkeeper: David Ospina has been selected as our goalkeeper for the Champions League and FA Cup this season so I fully expect the Colombian international to replace Petr Cech between the sticks this weekend.

Defence: Hector Bellerin made his comeback with a late substitute appears during the dramatic win over Burnley after recovering from an ankle injury so the Spanish youngster should replace Gabriel at right-back.

The Brazilian should move in to the middle of defence alongside Shkodran Mustafi with Laurent Koscielny given a rest while Kieran Gibbs could replace Nacho Monreal at left-back.

Midfield: Wenger has very little room to rotate in midfield as Granit Xhaka starts a four-game suspension following his dismissal against Burnley, Santi Cazorla is still injured while Mohamed Elneny is away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Francis Coquelin is certain to come in after recovering from a hamstring injury and while Wenger may ideally like to give Aaron Ramsey a breather, he’ll probably be forced to start the Welshman at St Mary’s.

Attack: The boss is expected to rest key men such as Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud so the door is open for Danny Welbeck to make his first start of the season after making three substitute appearances in recent weeks following his return to fitness.

Theo Walcott is also back in contention after overcoming a niggling calf problem so he should start from the right wing which could see Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain deployed in a more central attacking role.

Lucas Perez is also pushing for some game time after being given precious little opportunities in recent weeks and I think we’ll see him lining-up on the left side of attack.

Here is how I think we’ll see Arsenal line-up: