Wednesday 5 August 2015 17:05, UK
How will Arsenal line up when they kick off their Premier League campaign at home to West Ham on Super Sunday?
Goalkeeper Petr Cech is the Gunners’ only new signing of the summer so far but Arsene Wenger still has plenty of decisions to make on his team selection.
The Gunners could add more new faces before the transfer window shuts on September 1, but here is what their line-up might look like against the Hammers…
Goalkeeper
Goalkeeper has been a problem position for Arsenal ever since the days of David Seaman and Jens Lehmann, but in Cech they have finally found a suitable successor. The 33-year-old was typically impressive in Arsenal’s Community Shield win over his old side Chelsea, and the Gunners will hope for more of the same against West Ham. Wojciech Szczesny’s move to Roma leaves David Ospina as back-up, but youngster Damian Martinez could be on the bench on Sunday following the Colombian’s Copa America exertions.
Defence
Wenger kept his FA Cup final-winning back four together for the Community Shield, and the clean sheet against Chelsea suggests it will stay the same against West Ham. Nacho Monreal is ahead of Kieran Gibbs at left-back, and youngster Hector Bellerin appears to have usurped the more experienced Mathieu Debuchy on the right. In the centre, Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker form a tried and tested partnership.
Midfield
Francis Coquelin is a guaranteed starter in the holding role after his breakthrough last season, but it is less clear who will start alongside him against West Ham. Santi Cazorla filled that role last season, but he was pushed out to the left in the Community Shield with Aaron Ramsey moving into the middle. Alexis Sanchez’s absence suggests that could be repeated on Sunday – especially with Jack Wilshere injured. Mesut Ozil is set to start in his favoured No 10 role.
Attack
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will surely keep his place on the right after his man-of-the-match performance against Chelsea, and Cazorla seems the favourite to start on the opposite flank. Up front, Wenger faces a selection headache. Does he opt for the speed and movement of Theo Walcott, or the physicality of Olivier Giroud? Having started up front in the FA Cup final and the Community Shield, Walcott might just get the nod.
Subs
Despite the absences of Wilshere, Sanchez and Danny Welbeck, Arsenal are not without options on the bench. Calum Chambers, Gibbs, Debuchy and Gabriel Paulista provide plenty of defensive cover, and club captain Mikel Arteta gives them another option in midfield. Further forward, young winger Alex Iwobi will hope to be among the substitutes after impressing in pre-season.
