Can't wait for this and I'm so glad it's a midweek game.
This is a must win. This isn't arrogance, over confidence or getting carried away with expectation, but can you imagine the high everyone would feel? The adrenaline is still pumping from yesterday and I certainly don't want it to end. From a more sensible viewpoint, I'd like at least a draw here, which would be perfectly respectable at OT regardless of how bad they've been, and keep the unbeaten run going.
No team news yet but the bad news is that Xhaka is out and Mustafi limped off. Never expected to rue the fact that these two may be unavailable, but I think the former in particular will be a miss and I think Mustafi helps in games where you need to up the intensity like yesterday. Though we all remember the error last season. Kos and Nacho may be back but neither are realistic candidates to start this game. No idea on Mesut either, but amazingly he hasn't kicked a ball for over 3 weeks now so there's a question of match fitness besides everything else.
This most likely means a switch to a back four and with Xhaka out maybe a change to a midfield 3? I wouldn't be opposed to this:
Leno
Bellerin - Sokratis - Holding - Kola
Guendouzi
Torreira - Ramsey
Front 3
How that front 3 lines up, I honestly don't know what's best. I'd wouldn't be opposed to this:
Laca - Auba - Iwobi
It means Auba and Iwobi get to play on their favoured positions and I think Laca is both industrious enough and good enough on the ball to make it work. I think Mkhi did a job against Tottenham and gets too much critique at times, but I think we need to get our two top scorers on the pitch one way or another.
