Arsenal: Predicted Starting XI Vs. Hull City
CARSON, CA – JULY 31: Kit man Vic Akers in the Arsenal changing room before the pre season friendly match between Arsenal and CD Guadalajara at StubHub Center on July 31, 2016 in Carson, California. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
The Gunners face off against the Tigers at the KC Stadium this weekend. Here’s Pain In the Arsenal’s predicted starting lineup for Arsenal vs. Hull City.
Arsenal take a trip to high-flying Hull City for their fifth game of the 2016/17 season.
The Gunners tend to beat up on bottom-feeder Premier league opposition, but Hull have already made it hard for some good teams to beat them, in Leicester and Manchester United.
The Gunners are coming off a 1-1 draw with PSG in Paris mid-week.
That result came on the back of their late win at home vs. Southampton – the past two results have been solid, but the performance hasn’t been there to back it up.
Against Hull, Arsenal know they have to concentrate. Hull can sit deep in their own half diligently, and they know how to counter.
Recipe for disaster?
Here’s Pain In the Arsenal’s predicted starting eleven for the match.
Goalkeeper : Petr Cech
Not that it’s a surprise, but the only spot for Petr Cech during league games is on the field. David Ospina showed real quality against PSG, but now it’s Cech‘s turn to impress. As Wenger put it post-match in the Champions League, Arsenal have “two world-class goalkeepers”.
PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 13: Shkodran Mustafi of Arsenal during the UEFA Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal at Parc des Princes on September 13, 2016 in Paris, . (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
Defence
Right back: Hector Bellerin
Hector Bellerin is always the first option at right-back due to his incredible potential. He’s already quality, but he can become a complete, Dani Alves-like defender. Expect 35-40 starts at this rate.
Center Back: Laurent Koscielny
Koscielny was hit with studs in his face last time Arsenal faced off against premier league opposition. He was wear-and-tear against PSG but the Gunners survived, and now he will showcase his best again.
Center back: Skhodran Mustafi
Mustafi hasn’t been in the side for a defeat yet. Hopefully, Arsene Wenger can spot a good omen and keep the German in the team. Due to the mid-week match, one of Mustafi or Koscielny MIGHT sit out, in which case Rob Holding will replace them. Of course, he would – Holding is a legend already.
Left back: Nacho Monreal
Monreal is an Arsenal stalwart now, it should be no surprise that we predict him to start week-in-week-out. Kieran Gibbs cannot get into the team even after he has returned from his injury, so it’s the Spaniard again.
Francis Coquelin of Arsenal FC during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 match between FC Barcelona and Arsenal on March 16, 2015 at the CampNou stadium in Barcelona, Spain.(Photo by VI Images via Getty Images)
Midfield
Central midfield: Francis Coquelin
Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla are featuring frequently and together in recent games. Arsene Wenger says it is a partnership he’s hesitant to break. The Swiss Granit Xhaka will have to earn his spot, and a game like this where accurate long balls will have to be played seems like a good opportunity. However, he’ll be lucky to get a place against Coquelin at the moment.
Central midfield: Santi Cazorla
Santi Cazorla is back to form, as we saw against Southampton and in pieces against PSG. The playmaker’s fitness looks tip-top, and he seems to ignite the attacking players when he goes forward. Hopefully, he can control how much he exerts himself physically and start as many matches as possible.
Central attacking midfield: Mesut Ozil
The German has dropped off since producing all sorts of goods against Watford. His mercurial nature causing these form patches is natural, but Ozil can only be truly world-class if he is consistently world-class. He might need to unlock a few defensive doors against the Tigers in order to prove himself.
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 14: Alex Iwobi of Arsenal in action during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on August 14, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Attack
Right Wing: Alex Iwobi
Alex Iwobi has been extremely promising already this season. The Nigerian nearly equalised for the gunners in the champions league, but the scene was stolen by ever-present Alexis Sanchez. His role seems to be not in the middle of the field, so right wing seems like a good spot while Theo Walcott is struggling for fitness.
Left wing: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain cannot seem to let his manager down at the moment. The majority of his performances are without an end product, yet his work rate seems to come with an ever-filled bowl of Wenger–pleasure serum.
Central Striker: Alexis Sanchez
The Chilean will feature whenever he is fit for Arsenal, but his left wing role seems to have disappeared from Arsene Wenger‘s mind. Olivier Giroud has beelabelleded “doubtful” due to fitness concerns, and after Lucas Perez‘s opening match he might get his next look in during a less important match – like the cup fixture on Tuesday.
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