Arsenal will take on Manchester City in Gothenburg today as both the team bring their preseason to a close. Arsenal are unbeaten this summer with four back-to-back wins, while this will be only the third game of the preseason for Manchester City. Arsenal come into this game on the back of an 8-0 demolition of Viking on Friday. Wenger will be eager to sort out his team selection before the season kicks-off on August 14th against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium. Wenger has come under a lot of criticism this summer after his failure to land a world class striker, something that will be key to Arsenal’s title challenge next season.
The starting XI put out by both the teams is expected to be in accordance to the team that will be kick off the Premier League season. Wenger has said that Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey, who have just returned for preseason training, might play some part in the friendly on Sunday. It’s unlikely the duo will start the match but should come off the bench at some point. Mesut Ozil might sit out of this match, given that he has only been part of one or two training sessions. Here is the Arsenal predicted XI that Wenger might opt for.
Goalkeeper: Petr Cech
Cech was brilliant in his first season at the Emirates Stadium, finishing the season with the Golden Glove award after keeping 16 clean sheets. When fit, the former Chelsea keeper is a sure shot starter and should keep his place between the sticks on Sunday as well.
Defenders: Hector Bellerin, Nacho Monreal, Chambers and Gabriel.
With Per Mertesacker injured and Koscielny still to return from his summer holiday following his participation in the European Championship, Wenger will most likely go with Chambers and Gabriel in the centre of the defense line, the duo are the only two fit senior defenders in the squad right now. Bellerin was sensational last season and should keep his place in the starting XI on the right. Nacho Monreal was by far the most consistent left-back in the League last season, and will slot in at left-back on Sunday.
Midfielders: Granit Xhaka, Coquelin, Santi Cazorla, Joel Campbell and Oxlade-Chamberlain
New signing Granit Xhaka has carried his superb form from the Euros into the preseason with Arsenal and will start in central midfield alongside Coquelin. Ramsey and Sanchez will be in the matchday squad but are most likely to start from the bench. Therefore Cazorla will start in the number 10 role, with Chamberlain on the right wing and Campbell on the left. The English midfielder has been in top form this summer, having scored some superb goals.
Striker: Theo Walcott
Although Walcott announced this week that he would like to shift back on the right-wing, Wenger will most likely start him upfront again on Sunday due to the absence of Olivier Giroud.