Arsenal vs Tottenham Predicted Starting XI: Olivier Giroud To Start

Hector Bellerin and Kieran Gibbs

The moment of truth for Kieran Gibbs has to result in the favor of justice. Nacho Monreal’s injury was divine providence. Gibbs needed a chance to get into the starting XI, he got it, he took it, end of story. I do not particularly like the idea of Kyle Walker and Moussa Sissoko bull-rushing Monreal. He cannot handle that kind of speed and athleticism.

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Gibbs can, and he has proven that. I always thought that Gibbs and Kyle Walker were pretty similar, so putting one up against the other is a fair fight and one that our Englishman is capable of winning. He is taller, after all.

On the other side, we will be welcoming back Hector Bellerin. I don’t need to tell you how important that is. The Spuds don’t have a wealth of speed in their attack, so no breakaway is a sure fire thing. Especially not with Bellerin always tracking back.

Jenkinson did a good job and made a solid assertion in the Spaniard’s absence, but the speedy right back has such a safety net established that it would take a major collapse to see him out of the starting XI. I am not at all worried about that.

Moving on, let’s get to the center backs, where no questions will arise.