Predicted Arsenal Starting XI To Face Man City – No Podolski

Arsenal entertain Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening in a vital clash at the top of the table. Here, Gooner Mac gives us his predicted team for the game.

We were below par against Swansea on Tuesday and threw away two points after conceding a last minute equaliser. Ideally, I’m sure Arsene Wenger would like to make a few changes for the visit of City, but his options are limited due to the number of first team players on the treatment table.

Laurent Koscielny remains out with a calf injury so Thomas Vermaelen will continue alongside Per Mertesacker at the back, and with Nacho Monreal also still unavailable with a foot injury, Kieran Gibbs will remain at left-back.

Unfortunately we have few options to change things up in midfield as Aaron Ramsey is still ‘a few weeks’ away from returning, according to Arsene Wenger, while Jack Wilshere will be lucky to play again this season. Kim Kallstrom did make a very impressive cameo appearance in midweek but I think it would be a huge risk to start him against City. So Arsene is likely to go with Mikel Arteta and Matheiu Flamini again.

Lukas Podolski played himself into contention for a recall with a match-changing substitute appearance against Swansea, scoring one and setting up the other. However, the boss has rarely trusted him in the big games and I think the German will find himself being used as an impact sub again this weekend.

With Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil also injured, I think we’ll see Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky lining-up in attack again. Many fans have been calling for Yaya Sanogo to replace Olivier Giroud up front and while Oli has certainly not been at his best in recent weeks, I don’t think Wenger will drop him for such a big game.

So here’s my predicted team for the game:

What do you think of my team? What line-up would you pick? Share your views below….