Fabianski minds the net with Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, and Monreal in front of him; Ramsey and Rosický join Arteta and Cazorla in midfield, and Gervinho comes on up top with Giroud. I like how this looks on paper, and I’m picking Gervinho to have a goal and an assist.
On the other side, we’ll see Taylor, Kelly, Shorey, Mariappa, Pearce, and Karacan; Leigertwood, Guthrie, Robson-Kanu, and McAnuff; and Pogrebnyak. Stuart Taylor, for what it’s worth, made some 30 appearances for Arsenal from 1997 to 2005 but saw that there wasn’t room for him after we signed Lehmann and Almunia. He’s bounced around quite a bit, never really finding first-team action anywhere, but I’m sure he brings a bit of extra motivation to face his old club, for what that’s worth.
Gervinho and Cazorla will put this one to bed early.
Come on, you Gunners!