Arsenal: Predicted Starting XI To Face Manchester United

By Josh Sippie | Nov 18, 2016

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 06: (L-R) Granit Xhaka, Alexis Sanchez, Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny celebrate the Arsenal goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on November 6, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) /

Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil

I’ve done it. I’ve pulled the trigger on predicting Olivier Giroud to start…. again.

As I covered earlier today, I have never seen a match more hand-picked to be dominated by the big man, Oli G. With no aerial threats to speak of, as Zlatan, Fellaini and Smalling are all out, the idea of Giroud standing feet above the opposition, waiting on lofted balls, is tantalizing (some exaggeration included).

And who will those lofted balls be coming from? The man who needed Giroud after all – Mesut Ozil. Ever since Oli G returned to the fold, Ozil has had his assisting boots returned to him. But in order to keep those assists coming, we need to see those lofted balls bouncing off the solid forehead of the Frenchman.

United do not have the defensive resources necessary to cope with this duo, but it is up to Wenger to pull the trigger on it and not go back to his “winning formula” with Alexis up front.

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Please, Wenger. Please don’t do that. Thanks.