It’s Arsenal time again and this time it’s a trip to 19thplaced Middlesbrough which is striking terror into the hearts of Arsenal fans everywhere.
- Arsenal have lost their last 4 games away from home
- Middlesbrough are unbeaten in their last four Premier League home matches against Arsenal (W2 D2)
- Middlesbrough have conceded more goals against Arsenal than they have to any other opponent in the Premier League (62 in 29 matches)
- Olivier Giroud is the only current member of the Arsenal squad to have scored against Boro in any competition (two in the FA Cup)
Things should get a stability injection at the back with the return of Laurent Koscielny. While he has done nothing to deserve being dropped, Emiliano Martinez will most likely return to the bench with Petr Cech declared fit.
In the middle Granit Xhaka could perhaps make way for Aaron Ramsey but given the choice I think Arsene Wenger will bump Mohamed Elneny instead.
Danny Welbeck has played a lot recently, but a return of one goal in nine games is hardly setting the world alight. I’d give him a rest, put Alexis Sanchez back up front where he was when we used to win football games, and bring Alex Oxalde-Chamberlain back into the starting lineup.
But what do I know?
Predicted Arsenal XI
