Arsenal take on Fulham at the Emirates later this afternoon in a must win game if the Gunners are to keep in touch of the top four.
The Gunners were bashed 5-1 in their last Premier League outing against Liverpool on Saturday, leaving Unai Emery’s side five points adrift of fourth placed Chelsea with 18 games left to go.
There are no new injury concerns for Emery, with Danny Welbeck, Rob Holding, Nacho Monreal and Henrikh Mkhitaryan all out with long-term injuries while Mesut Ozil, who missed the trip to Anfield due to illness, will be assessed.
So, what should Arsenal’s starting XI be for today’s game?
Taking into consideration injuries and so forth, here is the formation and starting personnel I predict Emery will go for:
Leno
Lichtsteiner Sokratis Mustafi Kolasinac
Guendouzi Torreira
Iwobi Ozil Lacazette
Aubameyang
With the FA Cup a few days away and Petr Cech likely to start that match, Bernd Leno should continue in goal.
A traditional back four should be utilized today with Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi in the centre and Sead Kolasinac and Stephan Lichtsteiner either side.
Granit Xhaka should be dropped for Matteo Guendouzi and the Frenchman should play alongside Lucas Torreira, despite the Uruguayan looking a bit jaded as of late.
In front of Torreira and Guendouzi should be Mesut Ozil, whose creativity against Liverpool was sorely missed (if he is fit of course).
Front three of Alex Iwobi, Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang can cause all sorts of problems to Fulham’s fragile back-line.
