Strongest Arsenal lineup To Play Against Everton – Ramsey On The Bench, Ox And Rosicky To Start

With the Premier League title well out of reach for the Gunners, Arsene Wenger’s men travel to Goodison Park to take on an in form Everton side who have recorded four consecutive wins now. Arsenal know that their opponents are just four points behind with a game in hand for their quest for a Champions League berth.

While the Toffees romped to a convincing 3-1 win over Fulham last weekend, Arsenal showed great resilience to come back and snatch a point against Manchester City at the Emirates. The London side can ill afford a failure on Sunday, one meaning which their own hopes to play in Europe’s elite competition will take a serious beating. Can the Gunners stop the Everton juggernaut at Merseyside in the match of the Gameweek and what would be Wenger’s strongest possible lineup against Martinez’s high flying side?

We here at Soccersouls have the answers for our readers. 

Strongest Arsenal lineup to face Everton

Goalkeeper:

Wojciech Szczesny will face a stern test from Everton’s attacking prowess with the likes of Barkley, Mirallas, Naismith and Lukaku carrying significant threats. The Polish number one will surely have to play out of his skin to keep at bay an Everton side who are riding high and full of confidence going into the business end of the season. Szczesny needs to make sure he can is well marshaled at the back as a loss here would give impetus to Everton for a strong finish in the season.

Defenders:

Bacary Sagna should start in the right back slot while Kieran Gibbs will man the left back spot for Arsenal as he looks to continue his rich vein of form. Centre back Laurent Koscielny, will in all probability miss out but Wenger confirmed that the Frenchman may be available for the trip to Wembley against Championship side Wigan next weekend in the semi finals of the FA Cup following his calf problem. This means Belgian Thomas Vermaelen will continue playing alongside Per Mertesacker.

Midfield:

Arsene Wenger welcomes back Aaron Ramsey but he must decide whether to hand in an immediate start to the Welshman, who returns to the squad for the first time since Boxing Day after recuperating from a niggling thigh injury. If Ramey makes the bench then the onus would be on Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini to act as the double pivot for Arsene Wenger’s side on the pitch. Tomas Rosicky should play as the creator in the number ten role with Santi Cazorla pulling the strings on the left. However Arsenal’s greatest advantage would be the sheer pace of Alex Oxlade Chamberlain on the right against Everton’s left wing back Leighton Baines.

However, in all possibility there are every chances that Wenger might opt for Podolski to add to Arsenal’s goal threat and sack either of Rosicky and Oxlade Chamberlain and given the need to press the West Ham midfielders, Rosicky might get the nod ahead of OX with the English man along with Ramsey might get the final 20 minutes of the game to impress.

Strike force:

Olivier Giroud will again play as the target man as the Frenchman will look to run behind the opposition defense who have been frugal at conceding goals at home this season. Giroud will have to rely on his off the ball runs dragging the Everton defenders out of place as he will be more than aided by his team’s dazzling midfield behind him.

Or a possible alternative lineup