Confirmed Line Ups

Arsène has tinkered with the line up this evening and has put out what looks like a team capable of playing some rather sexy stuff. Tomas Rosicky and Alexis Sanchez have come in for Aaron Ramsey and Oliver Giroud. Theo Walcott has also replaced Danny Welbeck on the right of the Arsenal attack. The back four remain which is a little surprise. Thought it was a good chance to rest Koscielny but I assume he is fit and ready for more action. The midfield set up will be interesting. Arsene does not tend to play Rosicky in the number 8 position so it will be interesting to see if we do go 4-1-4-1 playing both Rosicky and Cazorla in central midfield just ahead of Coquelin.

The nerves from both sets of supporters have been interrupted temporarily by the team sheets being handed in. The big question was whether Alexis Sanchez has defied the odds or not and made the squad after injury.

The Arsenal line up is out and I suppose there are no real shocks. Theo Walcott and Mesut Özil retain their places more than likely in wide positions. David Ospina comes back into goal. I wondered if Gibbs would return to the side but it's nice to see Arsene stick with players on top of their game. Monreal deserves his place and perhaps gives a bit of defensive balance assuming that Bellerin on the other side will be pushing forward to join attacks more than the Spaniard. New boy Gabriel  starts on the bench which was to be expected.

Nice to see Arsene Wenger choose a strong line up this afternoon, I assume the seven day breaks between games has influenced his decision. In come Flamini, Rosicky and Monreal which allows Coquelin, Cazorla and Mertesacker can drop down to the bench and get some much needed rest ahead of our league fixture against Aston Villa.

The team sheets are out at the Etihad and as I thought we have been left with a surprise or two.

David Ospina continues in the Arsenal goal. There were rumours that Szczesny would be drafted back into the side but this was clearly untrue. Arsene is also sticking with attacking right back Hector Bellerin. It should be his biggest test in the Premier League so far. As expected Monreal continues at left back after some solid performances.

Aaron Ramsey comes back into the team alongside Francis Coquelin. It seems as if the young Frenchman has pushed his way up the pecking order. Gotta feel sorry for Rosicky but it is a very exciting looking team.

Come on the Arsenal.

All the talk this week has been about Arsenal's number one keeper Wojciech Szczesny and the smoking incident. We were made to believe that the player had been warned, fined and pretty much everything else was forgotten about. It doesn't seem so as David Ospina retains his place in the team

We have our first choice back four for the FIRST time this season. That is worth putting in caps if you ask me. Either Rosicky or Cazorla will play wide left in attack. Interested to see how Calum does in midfield. A good performance from him could be make Arsene reconsider buying in that position... I can feel the trembling from all the way over here.

The biggest news is that Mathieu Debuchy is back in the side after his long term injury, the news is even better when you consider that Laurent Koscielny is being rested tomorrow so he can deal with the busy Christmas schedule. Alexis Sanchez has been knocked on the head unconscious and left at the training ground so he doesn't run onto the plane. He won't be happy when he wakes up. As we are hit with midfield injuries, there isn't a great deal Arsene can do. Such a shame for someone like Tomas Rosicky who has been twiddling his fingers on the bench all season and now he can play, he can't because like half of our team, he's crocked.

Arsene has made a couple of changes for the match away at Stoke. Laurent Koscielny has been rested due to the ongoing achillies problem. Due to Monreal being out, Arsene's only option was to bring in Hector Bellerin and move Calum Chambers alongside big Per Mertesacker. I thought Danny Welbeck would be kept in this one due to his height but he is rested to the bench following a couple games where he hasn't been at his sharpest. So Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain keeps his place and Oliver Giroud starts as centre forward. Alexis Sanchez keeps his place in the team.