Expected Arsenal XI vs Tottenham: Wenger Makes 2 Key Changes

Arsenal will be desperate to get back in the mix for the top four with a win over Tottenham at the Emirates on Saturday lunchtime. Here is the side Gooner Mac thinks Arsene Wenger will select for the game:

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Goalkeeper: David Ospina is back in contention after recovering from a groin injury but Petr Cech is expected to keep his place in goal.

Defence: Laurent Koscielny has been passed fit to start despite missing training with France earlier this week with pain in his Achilles so the skipper should marshall the side at the back.

Shkodran Mustafi is set to make his return after recovering from a thigh injury that’s kept him out of the last seven games so he’s expected to be recalled to the back three tomorrow.

Per Mertesacker and Rob Holding are in contention after missing the defeat to Manchester City before the international break but Nacho Monreal is certain to keep his place in the starting eleven.

Midfield: Aaron Ramsey was given a well-earned rest for Wales in midweek so he’ll be fresh to start tomorrow and he’s expected to once again line-up alongside Granit Xhaka in the middle of the park.

There has been talk of Wenger possibly adding an extra body in midfield but that would mean sacrificing an attacker and as we need to win this game, I think the boss will stick with his usual formation.

I don’t expect any surprises in the wing-back positions so Sead Kolasinac and Hector Bellerin should once again start out wide.

Attack: There has been much debate over what Wenger will do in attack with some fans and pundits calling for Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil to be dropped. The theory is they don’t work hard enough in the big games and it’s safe to say they were both well below par at City last time out.

However, this game is at the Emirates and we need to make a statement with a win so you need your best players in order to do that. I don’t think Wenger will leave either Alexis or Ozil out so expect both to start.

The main question is whether Wenger decides to deploy Sanchez through the middle as this would allow him to start a hard-working attacker such as Alex Iwobi or the fit again Danny Welbeck.

However, it would be a huge call to leave Alexandre Lacazette out of another big game – especially after he scored twice for France in midweek – so I think we’ll see the £50m striker start up front with Ozil and Sanchez behind.

Olivier Giroud has been ruled out of the game after picking up a thigh injury during France’s friendly win over Wales last Friday night.

Fans have been calling for Jack Wilshere to start this game but Wenger has made it clear he’s competing for a spot in attack now so I think he’ll once again have to make do with a place on the bench.

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

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