Arsenal: Major Changes In Predicted Starting XI To Face Sunderland

Arsenal are staring down the Black Cats hoping that they won’t be like Boro. And there will be major changes, so let’s get into the starting XI.

Arsenal‘s draw against Middlesbrough was deflating because we had seen how much this Gunner’s attack was capable of. There is no excuse for being shut out against Boro at the Emirates. Not a single excuse.

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Some of the blame can fall on the lack of an offensive presence in the base of the midfield. With Cazorla and Ramsey injured and Xhaka suspended, there was no push from the back. Coquelin and Elneny can push all they want, but they are a predominantly deep-sitting duo with little impulse to influence the game going forward.

That may get even more interesting against Sunderland, as Cazorla is still a doubt and Ramsey is as well. Wenger will have to get creative to find a push from the base of his midfield.

Up front should be interesting as well, with Iwobi supposedly being replaced by the Ox and Theo Walcott out injured. Again, Wenger will have to get creative and find ways to innovate the attack to keep things fresh and firing. I have a plan, but we will get to that later. As we often see, my plan and Wenger’s plan never coincide when I want them most.

The only other major absence is potentially at left back with Nacho Monreal a doubt, but that has been a revolving door waiting to revolve for quite some time.

Plenty of things to think about as we launch into the starting XI. So let’s go ahead and do that at the least questionable position on the pitch.

Keeper: Petr Cech

This is his job and that won’t change for a long, longtime. I actually had to remind myself that he is only 34. He has a potentially lengthy career still on the book at Arsenal.

Moving on to our first questionable area, we get to the fullbacks.