I'd have Perez, Ramsey, and Giroud on the bench. Keep the competition real in midfield, don't think we should be playing anyone into form at this stage, too risky and is it really worth it? Coquelin/Xhaka seem like first choices to me, with Ramsey and Elneny both vying for the Coquelin role whilst having utility across the pitch. Xhaka is still not hugely convincing, but his forward mid-long range passing is world class, and honestly it completely transforms our game.

MistaT wrote:

Stoke have a pretty shifty forward line these days with Shaqiri...

Their front line is rubbish, they don't score much at all.

Rohit wrote:

If Ramsey is fit, I would like to see him start again with Xhaka. I think we can start that combination at home. Coquelin can start the next two away from home at Goodison and the Etihad.

Home game against a midtable side who'll sit pretty deep so I'd go with Ramsey too.

Klaus wrote:

Segway wrote:

Would be strange to put Perez back on the bench after his hat trick.

I think it's too soon for him. He just returned from injury and played the full 90 yesterday. He looked like he was running on fumes towards the end. There's no way he can start twice in four days.

Agree there. Will be great having him and Giroud as options from the bench though.

Their away form's been better than their home form, this could be a tough watch.
Hope we avoid getting stuck in a draw as they've drawn quite a few - definitely a team against whom it is important to score first and early.

Klaus wrote:

Segway wrote:

Would be strange to put Perez back on the bench after his hat trick.

I think it's too soon for him. He just returned from injury and played the full 90 yesterday. He looked like he was running on fumes towards the end. There's no way he can start twice in four days.

Good point. It depends on Perez' fitness of course.

Ramsey signaling he wanted to get subbed off against Basel makes me suspect he at least won't start this one. This worries me! We could desperately need Ramsey to find some good form rather than another period out with injury.

Forget Ramsey, Coquelin or any other player.
Gabriel at RB is the most important decision.
The man does not cross the halfway line but can defend his position.
I like Jenks as a person but you are not a RB if you cannot defend.

Other than the obvious changes to the back line, I'd love too see the same team that played yesterday.

Cech

Gabby Musti Kos Gibbo 

Ramsey Xhaka

Perez Özil Chambo

Sánchez 

Yeah I'd go with that too

---------Giroud
OX-------Ozil------Theo
------Xhaka---Ramsey
Nacho--Kos---Mus-Gabriel
----------Cech

Worried Wenger is going to run Alexis into the ground, we should have completely rested him against Basel IMO. We play Everton and City in the next 8 days, so I'd have him on the bench for this one. Giroud isn't world class but he's helped us win harder games than Stoke City at home in the past. Also I'd like Wenger to repay for his good attitude with few starts here and there whilst resting Alexis in the process.

Expected team. Ramsey seems to be injured.

Surprised to see Bellerin back in the squad already.

Obviously. Good team. Didn't Ramsey come off struggling with some injury in the last game?

Pity about Lucas, probably isn't fit enough to play again so soon

Wenger said there were no injuries from the Basel game. It's obvious Ramsey is still working on his fitness. Hopefully he'll be involved against Everton.

Maybe he picked up a knock in training then. If it's just a fitness issue he'd probably be on the bench.

He signaled to the bench before he got substituted in the last game. Hopefully its just a precaution.

Glad to see Xhaka starting.