Paulista And Welbeck Starts – Predicted 4-2-3-1 Arsenal Line-Up To Face Southampton In Their FA Cup Tie

After a last minute victory over Burnley in the Premier League, Arsenal are back in action this week as they face a trip to the St Mary’s to face a Southampton side that are fresh from a semi-final victory over Liverpool in the League Cup. The Gunners are expected to take the FA Cup seriously but Wenger might ring in the changes for this game to give a couple of fringe players a chance to impress ahead of the business end of the season. A tie can take this game to a second leg which neither team would prefer, and this might make for an exciting contest this weekend.

Here is the predicted lineup that Wenger might field for this game:

Team News:

The Gunners are still without the services of the likes of Santi Cazorla, Per Mertesacker, Mathieu Debuchy, Mohamed Elneny and Yaya Sanogo who are all absent. Midfielder Granit Xhaka is out suspended and will be the only other player missing this game for the Gunners.

Expected lineup (4-2-3-1):

David Ospina:

The backup goalkeeper for Arsenal, Ospina has been decent when called upon and should get his chance in this competition.

Hector Bellerin:

Having got a few minutes under his belt coming back from an injury at the weekend, Bellerin is expected to start this game for Arsenal.

Gabriel Paulista:

Giving Laurent Koscielny some much-needed rest, Paulista, who played on the flank last week, should keep his place as a center back this weekend.

Shkodran Mustafi:

The German center back has been superb this season and he will be the senior defender for Arsenal in this game against Southampton.

Kieran Gibbs:

The English full-back should get into the starting XI for this game to give Nacho Monreal a much-needed break from the first team.

Aaron Ramsey:

The Welsh midfielder will get his fair chances now that Granit Xhaka is out suspended for upto 4 games. He should start in the midfield for Arsenal.

Francis Coquelin:

The first choice midfielder for Wenger, Coquelin should keep his place in the squad for this game against Southampton.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain:

The English winger has not been able to cement a place in the starting XI at the Emirates but will get his chance to impress this weekend.

Alex Iwobi:

The young winger has been effective every time he got a chance to impress and Wenger should stick with his for this FA Cup tie.

Lucas Perez:

The Spaniard will now be looking to put in some influential performances and will be the biggest goal scoring threat for Southampton in this tie.

Danny Welbeck:

The English striker is coming back from a lengthy injury and this FA Cup fixture would be perfect for the Gunners to get him back to shape.