Arsenal starting XI to face Hull City – WITH Podolski
As we know all too well, the international break left Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger with even more injury problems to worry about. The injury list on the Arsenal.com website has a staggering 11 first team players on it, but actually things are not quite as bad as they seem.
Two of those players, Walcott and Gnabry, played for 45 minutes and an hour respectively last night, while Monreal, Arteta and Rosicky are supposed to be available for today’s Premier League visit of Hull City. And then Sanogo and Ramsey are due back in the next game or two so the problems actually seem to be easing off.
But for today the manager has a big problem in defence, with Koscielny ruled out with an ankle problem and Chambers suspended. The likelihood is that Bellerin will come in at right back with Monreal covering in the centre. I think this makeshift back four will mean that Wenger sticks with Flamini in midfield, with Cazorla and Wilshere more advanced.
Welbeck and Alexis pick themselves up front and then it is between Oxlade-Chamberlain, Podolski and Campbell for the left forward position. I personally would go for the extra goal threat from the German striker as well as the fact he is desperate to play, but the young Englishman’s energy and pace might just get him the nod. Her’s my XI:
Szczesny
Bellerin, Mertesacker, Monreal, Gibbs
Flamini
Alexis, Cazorla, Wilshere, Podolski
Welbeck
Is this the right team to get Arsenal a much needed victory over Hull?
