Perez starts in Wenger 4-2-3-1: Arsenal best possible XI to face Chelsea
By Matt Farr
Arsene Wenger should hand Lucas Perez a starting role when his Arsenal side take on Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday.
Perez has started just two Premier League games this term, but would give Arsenal much-needed impetus in the final-third against a brilliantly-organised Chelsea side.
Wenger should make a total of four changes, with Hector Bellerin, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott also returning.
Olivier Giroud, Gabriel Paulista, Alex Iwobi and the injured Aaron Ramsey should make way.
Arsenal have kept just seven clean sheets in the Premier League this season, but Wenger must stick with his most-trusted back-four.
Chelsea possess some quality forward players in Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Willian, and will no doubt be put to the sword at Stamford Bridge. Therefore, Bellerin, Nacho Monreal, Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi are best poised to the job required of them.
The last time the two sides met, the Gunners were impressive in all areas, keeping a clean-sheet in a 3-0 victory. However, a recent lack of consistency means this will be a much tougher test for Wenger’s side.
Francis Coquelin and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will have a big job on their hands winning the midfield battle, with Ramsey (calf injury) and Granit Xhaka (suspended) the latest midfield names out of contention for the tie.
Antonio Conte’s side are likely to dominate proceedings at Stamford Bridge, but this midfield partnership is the best one available to Arsenal given their lack of resources.
Joining Perez in attack should be Mesut Ozil and Walcott. Arsenal will need to use pace to their advantage, and they will have that in abundance with Walcott; while Ozil will be the central creative hub as per usual.
He does have a tendency to go missing in games, and Wenger will be hoping that Saturday is not one of those days.
Perez, meanwhile, has often slipped under the radar this season and deserves a chance to influence the full 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge. From 17 appearances in all competitions, the Spaniard has seven goals and six assists.
In the absence of Giroud, who should drop to the bench, Alexis Sanchez must lead the line. Arsenal performed so well with Sanchez as the spearhead of the attack earlier this season, and has been less effective since being shipped out wide.
Sanchez ran circles around the Chelsea defence last time out, and must be given the same responsibilities.
Arsenal simply must win to keep their slim Premier League title hopes alive, with Chelsea already nine points clear at the top of the table.
In other Arsenal team news, Paul Merson has given his prediction for the tie.
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