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What should our starting XI be for the North London derby?

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Arsene WengerTomorrow evening Arsenal take on Spurs at White Hart Lane in what should be a highly energetic and feisty game, with the home side keen to finish in the top four while the Gunners look to keep up with Chelsea and Manchester City at the top and contend for the title.

Arsenal’s European journey was ended by Bayern Munich in midweek while Spurs’ is all but over after being beaten 3-1 at home to Benfica in the Europa League two days ago – so both sides will be eager to get back to winning ways and a North London derby victory is more than just three points, there’s bragging rights at stake as well.

Arsene Wenger and the players no the importance of such a game and the fans will be expecting a performance and leaving the Lane with all three points.

However, we will have a number of first-team and key players missing for the trip through injury. Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott are all ruled out, while Kieran Gibbs remains 50/50. On a bright note, Kim Kallstrom, the Swede we signed in January, is fit and available for selection.

So taking into account that this is a north London derby and bragging rights are at stake, as well as three important points up for grabs and injuries to consider, who should start for us?

Well here is who I think Wenger should pick for tomorrow’s game:

Szczesny

Sagna               Mertesacker              Koscielny               Vermaelen

Flamini               Arteta

Chamberlain               Cazorla               Rosicky

Giroud

Despite two decent outings against Bayern Munich, Lukasz Fabianski will more than likely make way for Wojciech Szczesny between the sticks.

Our back four should not be changed, but if Gibbs is fit then he will probably take Thomas Vermaelen’s place in this line-up. Personally if the Englishman is fit, I’d rather him start over the Belgian as he possesses more pace and agility.

Ahead of the back-line should be Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta. Flamini’s leadership and tenacity are made for games like this and I will be hugely disappointed and surprised if Wenger doesn’t start him tomorrow. Arteta will have to start as we are short of options in midfield due to injuries stated earlier in the article.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is in great form so he should start and Santi Cazorla is also getting back to his best. With Ozil injured, I expect Tomas Rosicky to start over Lukas Podolski as the Czech’s experience and creativity will be beneficial. These three will swap positions as the game wares on and in addition to this, I expect to see Serge Gnabry feature later on in the game.

Despite his problems off the field I hope Olivier Giroud starts over the inexperienced Yaya Sanogo, then again, you never know with Wenger.

This is who I think will start for us tomorrow, but what do you guys think?

Let us know below

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5 comments

  • Emmanuel says:

    I seem to agree with your team because there are not many options available to us , any way. I think that’s the best starting line up under the present circumstances.

  • Samuel Akinsola Adebosin says:

    Szczesny. Sagna Mertesacker Koscielny Vermaelen. Flamini Arteta. Chamberlain Cazoria Podolski. Giroud. Bench: Fabianski Sanogo Kallstrom Rosicky Gibbs Gnabry Jerkinson. Let Flamini be a little bit calm with instructions to his colleagues to avoid any clash and distractions. Let him concentrate fully on the match and avail himself any opportunity to score and not blaise it. Arteta must give Vermaelen some defensive cover. Podolski should start ahead or Rosicky because he is at the moment on song. Vermaelen should start ahead of Gibbs who has not fully recovered from injury. Those who have just recover from injuries should start from the bench.

  • sanogo says:

    i blieve we should stat wit swzny sagna kocielny metesacker vermelean flamni cahmberlain carzola rosicky podolsky giroud

  • Ay musa says:

    I will like Wenger to start with Podolski, Rosicky, Arteta/Flamini nd the Ox should start in d middle of d park Bcos we need someone that can run defence nd lots of energy via our midfield which ox is capable of doing.

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