No Giroud? How Arsenal Should Line Up Versus Liverpool

Arsenal host Liverpool tomorrow afternoon in the fifth round of the FA Cup and will be dying to get some revenge on the Merseyside outfit after Brendan Rodgers' men thrashed them 5-1 in the Premier League recently. But if you were Arsene Wenger, how would you line your side up? Here's how I would set up my players, keeping their tie with Bayern Munich next week in mind.

I would keep Szczesny in between the sticks, with Bacary Sagna at right-back and Kieran Gibbs on the left. Gibbs has the pace to get up and down the line and I think he is a stronger choice than Nacho Monreal considering who will be attacking that area.

In midfield I would go with Mathieu Flamini, who is back from his ban, and Jack Wilshere. The latter had a poor game last time out but alongside Flamini it gives him the chance to push on.

I'd stick Mesut Ozil in the hole and give him the free role, with Alex Oxlade-Chamblerain on the right and Lukas Podolski on the left in place of Cazorla who is out of the tie with an illness.

Up top I would rest Giroud for the Champions League clash and unleash Serge Gnabry, who has impressed me so far this season. Either that or Nicklas Bendtner if he's fit.

Gooners, who would you start?

Comments

[Colin]

I like the team, though I quite like the idea of Ox next to Flamini. Jack still doesn't look 100% , but Ox looked sharp and powerful and direct v Palace. I like Ozil having a freer role though, I think it has been difficult for him having another playmaker on the pitch.