If we are to play the same way, allowing our full backs higher up the pitch then I'd be up for Lukas Podolski starting because you'd think he'd have a decent amount of time inside the opponents penalty area. Santi Cazorla could do with a mental refresh I reckon as his wayward finishing may have been taking a toll on him.

Alexis Sanchez has scored 4 goals in his last two games playing in a free role behind Danny Welbeck, judging by Arsène Wenger's comments post match it doesn't seem as if he is willing to change that anytime soon. It was from those central positions where our summer signing scored his goals. On 70 Alexis timed his run to perfection to meet the flight of a Calum Chambers cross. His determination and

He definitely isn't. If you listen in really, really hard on the close ups you can actually hear the subtle mechanised whirr of cogs and wheels turning at an incredible pace. The world looks a lot brighter with him in the side, although that may just be the glow from the uranium cartridges in his legs

Arsene Wenger has stuck with the side that beat Sunderland at the Stadium of light last weekend. Mikel Arteta had spoken of the move to 4-4-2 to accommodate Alexis in a central role and we are likely to see a repeat of that this afternoon. I had thought that perhaps we could see Aaron Ramsey come back into the team given the opposition and venue, a chance to start on the front foot but Arsene has gone for a more cautious foundation of Arteta and Flamini, giving the base for Alexis to work his magic further up the pitch.

On the injury front it looks as if Jack Wilshere will miss the game due to a kick on his knee at Sunderland but Kieran Gibbs might be available. I might be in the minority here but in games where our opponent is likely to sit back and flood the middle of the pitch, I would prefer to start with Nacho Monreal who is better at keeping width and also running in behind his opposition full back where as Kieran Gibbs tends to dribble inside his man. He is better in individual duels so is better against stronger opponents. I suspect that Gibbs will play if he is completely fit but I'd be more than happy with the Spaniard.

It could all be coincidence and nothing to do with Shad Forsythe and his methods but then again he could have had an early impact, it's difficult to say one way or the other. But the most important fact is that we are starting to get players back for selection. Theo Walcott is already back part of the group and training, as is Serge Gnabry but you get the feeling that the latter could be somewhat Campbellised. We love our injuries at Arsenal but chopping through enough wide attacking players so Gnabry can get a regular run in the side sounds a bit optimistic. I wouldn't be surprised to see us build him back to fitness before seeing if he can sink or swim on loan somewhere. Hopefully in the Premier League.

There are plenty of examples of AW’s non-linear thinking, but this is most obvious in his attitude to player position. Where to start? Well, off the top if my head, George Weah was a winger, Thierry Henry was a winger, so was Ashley Cole, Kolo Toure was a midfielder, that Dutch bloke was a winger, Lauren was a wide-midfielder, Vito Mannone was a playmaker, Petit was a left-back, Gibbs was a central midfielder.

Arsène Wenger threw us all a curveball. Not only did he revert back to 4-2-3-1 but instead of using Santi Cazorla behind Danny Welbeck he gave that role to our big summer signing. Alexis Sanchez had played a large part of his career at Udinese behind Antonio Di Natale and he proved to be a star in that role. Alexis had started the season like a fireball without much direction. His passing was erratic and he wasn't on the same wavelength as the rest of his colleagues. Since then Alexis Sanchez has been the undisputed technical leader of this team. We have the Chilean to thank for bailing us out against Hull City, Anderlecht and now Sunderland. I don't think I can remember a player at Arsenal so forceful at stamping his personality on games

I was tempted to say Per, but that would be unfair because the reason we won was down to one man's energy and determination.  Alexis Sanchez is World Class (my definition being they'd get into a World Squad of 25) and he is so perfectly suited to the Premier League. I actually saw an increased work rate from some of our players today and I think that is down to Alexis Sanchez leading by example.  The media and Sunderland fans will probably be harsh on Wes Brown and Don Vito, but Alexis Sanchez accelerating at you at that pace will scare the best of defenders.  When the free flowing football isn't working, the result will usually come if you get your head down, work hard and grind it out, and luckily for us Alexis has it all.

So Theo Walcott makes the Arsenal bench but there are more pressing changes that the team will have to deal with. Arsene Wenger is protecting Aaron Ramsey from playing two games in four days after injury, so the Welshman is on the bench. Mikel Arteta comes back into the side in the Welshman's place. Monreal continues at centre back with Chambers at right back. Oxlade-Chamberlain comes back into the starting 11 after missing out in midweek.