Arsenal Starting XI Against Galatasaray Chock Full of Excitement

When Arsene Wenger came out and said that Arsenal didn’t have much at stake against Galatasaray, I was a bit sick. Nearly everyone in the regular starting XI were rumored to be resting for the game, with Alexis Sanchez and Laurent Kocielny not even traveling with the team.

But here’s the lineup: Wojciech Szczesny, Mathieu Debuchy, Calum Chambers, Per Mertesacker, Hector Bellerin, Mathieu Flamini, Joel Campbell, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey, Lukas Podolski and Yaya Sanogo.

Let’s look at this position by position:

• Wojciech Szczesny – It’s great to see the Pole back in goal. I had to read the lineup a couple times for it to register that he was indeed getting the start.
• Defense – Mathieu Debuchy is back? Again, this name I had to read over a couple times as well to let it set in that we’d be able to see him back in action. Add to that Mertesacker and Chambers and this defense is a solid one. Belerin rounds it out on the left.
• Midfield – I had already assumed that Ramsey would start, but seeing Joel Campbell in the lineup leaves me overflowing with excitement. The young Costa Rican knows what’s at stake here. This is his opportunity.
• Attack: The Ox, Poldi, and Sanogo (brimming with confidence and primed to score more). This is a quality attack that could put some masterful movements together.

I’m looking forward to the subs as well: Martinez, O’Connor, Kamara, Maitland-Niles, Zelalem, Iwobi, Akpom. All young prospects in an Arsenal system that is renowned far and wide. I went from partially dreading this game to counting down the minutes.

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