Confirmed Line Ups

As expected the team has pretty much picked itself. Without the injured Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta, Arsene has recalled Alexis Sanchez thus pushing the Ox into the middle alongside Mathieu Flamini who replaces Arteta.

It is always difficult to predict who will play in these games and there is usually a surprise or two. We got that surprise as Jack Wilshere and Alexis Sanchez are set to start to add some quality to a rather mix and match team. Calum Chambers continues in the defence with a host of young players around him in front of new guy David Ospina.

Not much in the way of tinkering today from Arsene Wenger. Jack Wilshere who took a kick to his ankle in midweek is on the bench alongside Abou Diaby as Santi Cazorla comes in to replace him. Santi played in the middle with Özil wide in our CL qualifer so I expect that to be the case today. We have zero defenders on the bench so we have to hope that we avoid any defensive injuries today.

19 year old Hector Bellerin starts in place of the injured and suspended Mathieu Debuchy. We are back to full strength at the back with Gibbs returning. Mikel Arteta comes into the side in place of Mathieu Flamini and Danny Welbeck continues in attack.

Rambo has recovered from ankle knack and comes back into the team. Even a Rambo below his best is still vitally important due to his goalscoring threat and also his defensive contribution. City know they will have to watch his late runs and that is a good thing.

Arsene has sprung somewhat of a surprise with his line up to face Leicester City this afternoon. Yaya Sanogo has come back into his team moving Alexis Sanchez to the right of attack. I assume that Mesut Özil will continue wide left and Santi Cazorla keeps his place after his battling display midweek meaning that Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have been rested/dropped to the bench.

Mertcielny return at the heart of the Arsenal defence which instantly makes me feel somewhat more relaxed about the situation. Hopefully Mertesacker has dusted off his rust from Goodison Park. Full backs stay the same which is no surprise

BFG is back and straight into the starting line up. We haven't had the pleasure of watching Mertesacker in our line up since we lifted the FA cup in May. His height and leadership will be needed from set pieces, an area we have failed in recent times. He lines up alongside Chambers in the heart of defence. Kos is resting his injury I suppose.

Yup, just the two changes as we expected. Giroud comes in for Sanago while Monreal comes in for Gibbs. I did wonder if Oxlade-Chamberlain would start the game in place of either Cazorla or Wilshere but Arsene has gone with as close a team as to the one that started against Palace last weekend.

Arsene Wenger has shown yet more faith in Yaya Sanogo as he takes his good pre season form into the first game of the season. Oliver Giroud has yet to shake off some World Cup rust and will take up his place on the Arsenal bench. The rest of the team is pretty much as expected. New flier Alexis Sanchez starts in the Walcott position while Santi keeps his place on the left ahead of the likes of Oxlade-Chamberlain.