Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Chelsea: Predicted starting XI – Chasing the trophy

By Andrew Dowdeswell

FILE PHOTO (EDITORS NOTE: GRADIENT ADDED - COMPOSITE OF TWO IMAGES - Image numbers (L) 889346808 and 861285074) In this composite image a comparision has been made between Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal (L) and Antonio Conte, Manager of Chelsea. Arsenal and Chelsea meet in a Premier League match on January 3, 2017 at the Emirates Stadium in London,England. ***LEFT IMAGE*** SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Southampton and Arsenal at St Mary's Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 14: Antonio Conte, Manager of Chelsea looks dejected after the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Chelsea at Selhurst Park on October 14, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
FILE PHOTO (EDITORS NOTE: GRADIENT ADDED - COMPOSITE OF TWO IMAGES - Image numbers (L) 889346808 and 861285074) In this composite image a comparision has been made between Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal (L) and Antonio Conte, Manager of Chelsea. Arsenal and Chelsea meet in a Premier League match on January 3, 2017 at the Emirates Stadium in London,England. ***LEFT IMAGE*** SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Southampton and Arsenal at St Mary's Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 14: Antonio Conte, Manager of Chelsea looks dejected after the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Chelsea at Selhurst Park on October 14, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Rob Holding
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – JANUARY 07: Ben Brereton of Nottingham Forest and Rob Holding of Arsenal in action during The Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at City Ground on January 7, 2018 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /

Back Three

Given that the first leg is away from home and that when Arsenal played Chelsea at the Emirates last week Wenger still wanted the extra defender that a back three provides, I expect him to switch back to the 3-4-3 system that was momentarily abandoned at the weekend.

Of the centre-halves available, the only player who seems nailed on to start is Calum Chambers. He didn’t play against Forest, he’s not injured, and Wenger’s trust is clearly growing in him, despite a rough outing last match. Alongside Chambers, it is as much a guessing game as anything else.

Shkodran Mustafi faces a late fitness test. Laurent Koscielny is a doubt with his Achilles continuing to ail him. Neither Per Mertesacker nor Rob Holding covered themselves in glory on Sunday afternoon, being run ragged by 18-year-old Ben Brereton. As an estimate, I will say that Mustafi and Holding will start. That is the back three that played against Chelsea last time, and I would be surprised if Wenger wants to risk Koscielny’s ankle or Mertesacker’s lack of pace.