After a frustrating draw against Middlesbrough over the weekend, Arsenal now have to make things normal in their camp through a routing League Cup win over Reading, who will be visiting the Emirates this Wednesday.
With Olivier Giroud returning to full training, he is more than expected to return to the starting lineup getting a bit of warm up before Arsenal again resume their Premier league campaign against Sunderland next weekend.
As is likely with Arsene Wenger, he is expected to start with a young squad with the likes of Rob Holding, and Adelaide. He would also like to rest his first team players.
Defence
With not many options at every defensive position, Wenger is expected to keep Kieran Gibbs as a left back, Rob Holding and Gabriel Paulista in the central defending role replacing Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi, and also Mathieu Debuchy if Carl Jenkinson is still not fit. Jenkinson has reportedly returned to training and would have to go tests before the final decision taken by Wenger.
With Holding and Paulista at the back, Arsenal have a pretty solid back line, although they would miss Calum Chambers, who is at the moment on loan to Middlesbrough.
David Ospina is expected to get the nod to keep him warmed up for next weeks’ midweek fixture in the Champions League. But as it is with Wenger, he has often left the onus on Emiliano Martinez in such conditions.
Midfield
One position, where Arsenal have a plethora of options is the midfield area. Of course, the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Adelaide are expecting to get the manager’s nod on Tuesday. Mohamed Elneny is expected to start as Cazorla is coming back from a mild Achilles tendon injury. Aaron Ramsey is back in training, will be doubtful in the fixture as Wenger believes in giving ample training time to his players before they start playing again.
Alex Iwobi, as he was substituted off early in the game against Middlesbrough, just might start on the left-hand side, which exposes Kieran Gibbs. Mind you, Gibbs is a pretty much attack-minded defender himself. With Xhaka still out for 1 match owing to his suspension, Coquelin might have to take the defensive midfield position.
Attack
With Olivier Giroud returning to the side, as the news are doing the rounds, the hard working Sanchez will be expected to take a break. Same will go for Theo Walcott, who is expected to be replaced by Lucas Perez, who is yet to get good playing time under his belt.
