Predicted Arsenal Line-up To Face Red Star Belgrade In The Europa League
Arsenal were embarrassed at the Vicarage Road this past weekend as a late winner from Tom Cleverly left them without a point. However, Wenger has a chance to quickly redeem himself when his Arsenal side face Red Star Belgrade, a Serbian top flight outfit, in their Europa League group stage fixture on Thursday night.
The Gunners have won both their previous games in the competition this season but will face their toughest test of the group stage on this trip to Belgrade. Wenger will be hunting for all three points to ease their progress into the knockout phase of the competition.
Team News
In early team news, Shkodran Mustafi, Francis Coquelin, Calum Chambers and Santi Cazorla remain sidelined for the Gunners. Striker Danny Welbeck picked up a niggle at the weekend and is not expected to feature in this game alongside Laurent Koscielny, who is suspended. With a trip to Everton at the weekend, Wenger might be looking to shuffle his first team up a bit.
Formation: 3-4-2-1
Manager: Arsene Wenger
GK – David Ospina
Arsene Wenger has stuck with Ospina for most European games and is expected to use him under the bar in this game as well.
CB – Rob Holding
The youngster has now become a regular in the first-team at Arsenal but he would like to put in a better performance than he did against Watford after coming on as a sub.
CB – Per Mertesacker
The German defender scored the only Arsenal goal at the weekend and the skipper’s presence would be vital.
CB – Nacho Monreal:
With lack of options at the back, Wenger should stick with Monreal at the left-hand side of the backline.
RWB – Reiss Nelson
The youngster has been effective in almost every game he has been given a chance in and Wenger should start him as a wing-back on the right wing, giving some much-needed rest to Hector Bellerin.
CM – Mohamed Elneny
The Egyptian was not too effective in the game against the Hornets and will hope to have a better game against Red Star on Thursday.
CM – Jack Wilshere
The English midfielder is only growing in confidence, having put in some excellent performances, and deserves to start in the midfield.
LWB – Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Another youngster who has been impressing of late, Maitland-Niles deserves more first-team chances and should get one in this game, at left wing-back.
RAM – Theo Walcott
Another player who has fallen out of favour at the Emirates, Walcott, has been restricted to cup games and will have to take his chances to get back into the first-team.
LAM – Alexis Sanchez
Arsenal cannot afford to be too complacent, even after being at the top of the table and should use the Chilean winger in this game to seal three crucial points without much fuzz.
ST – Olivier Giroud
The French ace has not been able to get into the first team ahead of Lacazette but will get a chance to prove himself, also giving his strike partner some rest.
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