Updated: Arsenal Starters For Dinamo Zagreb, Aaron Ramsey To Start

View image | gettyimages.com

Gabriel Paulista and Laurent Koscielny

Why isn’t this pairing being used? They are so much more athletic, dynamic and versatile than any other pairing. Does Arsene Wenger really value Per Mertesacker’s leadership qualities that much? I get it, the German has his qualities and there are certain games he should do better in. I was guilty of thinking that West Brom was one such match that he would be better in. Wrong.

Gabriel Paulista brings so much more to the table. He may not have the intelligence, but he has much better pace to get out of sticky situations. He has better physicality to out-muscle attackers and he has intensity that Arsenal is going to need even more now that Francis Coquelin is out. Gabriel Paulista must start.

Laurent Koscielny must always start. The Frenchman is too good to be without. What’s crazy is that he seems to get even better when paired with Gabriel Paulista. So stick the two together again! It worked out earlier in the year, so why was the formula broken?

Next: Defensive Midfield