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Who’d be in your Arsenal XI to take on West Brom this afternoon?

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I don’t know what you guys think, but today is a must win game for Arsenal. Not only to climb up the table and mount a serious challenge for a top four finish, but for the players to regain their confidence and something for the fans to cheer about – lord knows we haven’t had done this in some time.

The pressure seems to be mounting on Arsene Wenger and the players to turn the tide, and rightly so, especially after recording just ONE win in Arsenal’s last five outings. In fact, our last win in the Premier League came against Spurs on the 17th November, and even then many question whether or not Arsenal would’ve snatched all the points had Emmanuel Adebayor not been given his marching orders.

In any case, this game against arguably the surprise package of the season so far – West Brom – at The Emirates could define our season, even at this early stage.

A win will see us jump to sixth, if of course the four teams above us record poor results, behind The Baggies, who currently lie in fifth place. A draw or, heaven forbid, a loss will simply not do. Not after what has occurred in recent weeks. Fans will simply not stand for it anymore. I’ll probably go as far as saying that if we come out of the game with a point or nothing at all then Wenger should seriously consider his position at the club. Perhaps a crazy thought to some, but an honest one from a diehard Gooner.

Taking all this into consideration, what should our starting XI look like? Who should Wenger play?

Well, here is how I would like to see the Frenchman set out the team today:

Szczesny

Jenkinson          Mertesacker          Vermaelen          Gibbs

Arteta                    Wilshere

Cazorla

Chamberlain                                 Arshavin

Giroud

With Bacary Sagna sidelined, Carl Jenkinson will have to step in, while Kieran Gibbs retains his position at left-back.

With Laurent Koscielny out, Thomas Vermaelen and Per Mertesacker are our only two worthy candidates to start in the centre of the back four.

The midfield trio should remain the same, while I would start Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ahead of the frustrating Gervinho.

I would have picked Theo Walcott to start the game but he is out with an injury, so I think, and this may not go down well with some of you lot, Andrey Arshavin should be given a run out – why not?

Olivier Giroud should lead the line. Four goals in his last seven outings is not a bad return for the Frenchman. Besides he is our only decent striker available at present.

So, who do you guys reckon should start for us today against The Baggies?

Give us your thoughts on the matter below

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15 comments

  • Drew Palumbo says:

    Szczesny
    Jenko TV5 Mertesaker Gibbs
    Whilshere Arteta
    Rosicky
    Cazorla Giroud The Ox
    Subs: Arshavin/The Ox
    Gervinho/Rosicky (Cazorla switches to mid)

  • Twig says:

    Arshavin is not playing and you know it.

  • ivorstephens says:

    .Let Oxlade Chamberlain play off Giroud and make sure to keep WBA’s midfield occupied chasing the ballArshavin shouldn’t play he’s had so many chances and never seems that bothered about things.Compare his efforts at club level with his international form where he plays like a man possessed

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