Santi played pretty much the entire campaign last season in his first year. Then he played for Spain over the summer when he should have been resting so his foot injury was no surprise and his rest was very much needed, hopefully we will get a rejuvenated Santi and that can only be a good thing, a very good thing. An even better thing when you slot him into the same attacking third as one Mesut Özil, a combination that I’m sure you are well aware haven’t yet played together as yet. You’d like to think that this will take place this afternoon hopefully from the start but if not then at least at some point. Wouldn’t it be typical if Arsene replaced Özil for Cazorla. I don’t think this will happen though, Cazorla needs to sharpen up before the big games come our way and he can only do

We’ve waited a while for this one, or at least it seems so. That 1-1 draw against West Brom feels so long ago now but I reckon I must say that after every round of international distractions matches. After years of suffering strains, tears, tweaks in those international matches, the table has turned at least just this once. The break from domestic football has allowed time for a few of our injured to recover. I’m convinced that Santi Cazorla could have been included in the squad to face West Brom, the player said so himself but Arsene held him back, preventing him from being selected for Spain. I could be wrong but that is what I believe.

Santi played pretty much the entire campaign last season in his first year. Then he played for Spain over the summer when he should have been resting so his foot injury was no surprise and his rest was very much needed, hopefully we will get a rejuvenated Santi and that can only be a good thing, a very good thing. An even better thing when you slot him into the same attacking third as one Mesut Özil, a combination that I’m sure you are well aware haven’t yet played together as yet. You’d like to think that this will take place this afternoon hopefully from the start but if not then at least at some point. Wouldn’t it be typical if Arsene replaced Özil for Cazorla. I don’t think this will happen though, Cazorla needs to sharpen up before the big games come our way and he can only do so by playing so I expect our little Spanish magician to start the game if not complete the 90 minutes.

As I said a few days ago, I would imagine that if anyone was to get rested to the bench then it would likely be Aaron Ramsey who played a full 120 minutes for Wales which I think is the most in our squad during the same period. When you consider that West Brom aside he has played every other minute this season then a 20 minute cameo would make sense. Any player to replace Ramsey at this moment is a step down purely because he is the form midfielder in the league at present but it is hardly much of an issue when that player may well be Jack Wilshere who hardly played at all for England.

When the manager has to consider previous games and games to come, it becomes rather difficult to predict, Arsene is a stronger believer in wins being the best preparation for the next match and I don’t see Arsene making too many changes to his team as some are predicting. He will want to focus on beating Norwich today before any thoughts of Dortmund so I do not expect Özil for example to be rested. Rambo might be a slightly different case.

Another interesting decision for the boss is who to play in the midfield pivot roles. Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini are both fresh and have been training all week. As a duo, they might be a little too defensive for a  game like today. Norwich has been rather defensive when they have traveled away from home this season and Chris Hughton has made a habit of trying to stifle us in the past, I expect his team to try and do so today.

At the same time, Arsene will not want to leave our defence exposed on the break, I remember last season at home against Aston Villa for Weimann’s goal. Given the players I expect to start we could quite often look a little like this when on the attack.

Is there an argument for having Flamini and Arteta in midfield to offer more protection which would allow our creative players to stay further up the pitch? Which is exactly the opposite of what I said above.

Flamini or Arteta could replace Wilshere in the above line up, it would also mean that Ramsey’s energy and ability to cover ground would be replaced should the Welshman start on the bench.

Hard to really write about something that, well might not even happen but hey this is what you get for writing match previews.

But you gotta admit, looking at the trio behind Giroud in the above image is a little sexy isn’t it? Go on admit it.

I would like to see those three start today and in Dortmund and there is no reason why they shouldn’t. I might have to try and get hold of the average touch positions after the match finishes and see how far away I was but I guess it depends on Arsene’s selection doesn’t it?

I am interested to know what has happened to Serge Gnabry though, he was on a run was arguably our best player at Swansea when he scored his first Arsenal goal and has disappeared ever since. I was going to write how in Theo’s absence, his pace would be useful but given how Gnabry drifts towards the ball rather than running onto passes, his pace actually hasn’t made much of a difference so far.

If Wilshere does start in the midfield two it will be interesting to see who starts with him. Both Arteta and Flamini have advantages to their names. When we are in possession, Arteta’s ability to pass in between the lines will be very useful when it comes to breaking Norwich down and as I’ve already said above, Flamini’s engine could be useful in covering ground when we lose the ball.

Mean Lean’s Predicted Line Up:

I am probably completely wrong with this. The more I think about it, the more I think Flamini will start, especially if Ramsey doesn’t. It is great that Arsene has options even with some key players still to return.

Ok, got a few things to do before I watch the Arsenal, very excited. Three points and some wonderfully entertaining football please. Yeah I know I am asking for too much but hey. However I’d settle for a 1-0 scrappy win.

Up the Arsenal.