After getting knocked out from the League Cup by Sheffield Wednesday, Arsenal will look to continue their winning run in the league and put pressure on table toppers Manchester City as the Gunners travel to the Wales to face Swansea. How will they line-up for the clash? Here is their possible playing XI
Goalkeeper: Petr Cech
With Colombian shot-stopper David Ospina out injured, it is certain that Summer signing Petr Cech will be the Arsenal goalkeeper for the game against Swansea.
Defense: Hector Bellerín, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal
After playing a second string defence against Sheffield, Arsenal will field their strongest defence to stop he likes of Andre Ayew and Gomis. After getting a break mid-week, Spaniards Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal will be first choice right-back and left-back respectively. Per Mertasacker, who didn’t play the Everton game due to illness is set to comeback to the side and is likely to partner Frenchman Laurent Koscielny in the central defence.
Midfield: Francis Coquelin, Mathieu Flamini, Santi Cazorla, Mesut Özil and Alexis Sánchez
Arsene Wenger has a huge task in finding the right man to play in the right wings after Welshman Aaron Ramsey was injured in the Everton game. His natural replacement Alex Oxalade-Chamberlain was also ruled out of the clash due to an injury he sustained mid-week. This gives Wenger two options. 1. Play Alex Iwobi in the right wing. 2. Play Santi Cazorla in the right wing and include Flamini in the playing XI to accompany Coquelin as the holding midfielder. It is likely that Wenger might go in with the second option and play it safe. Arsenal’s in-form hitman Alexis Sanchez will start from the left and Mesut Ozil will be deployed right behind the striker in the number 10 role.
Forward: Olivier Giroud
Injury to England’s Theo Walcott means Frenchman Olivier Giroud, who is on a goal scoring spree will start for Arsenal as the striker against Swansea.