Arsenal team news: Xhaka should be replaced by Elneny v Everton

By support

12th Dec, 2016 | 12:00pm

Liability midfielder axed in Wenger 4-2-3-1: Arsenal best possible XI to face Everton

By Emma Sanders

Arsenal should drop Granit Xhaka for the clash against Everton at Goodison Park on Tuesday evening.

Mohammed Elneny should come into the starting line-up and play in the holding midfield role alongside Francis Coquelin because Aaron Ramsey may not be available.

The Welshman was absent from the squad which recorded a 3-1 win against Stoke so it’s unlikely he’ll be fully fit for the clash with the Blues on Tuesday evening.

Xhaka is a liability in midfield because he gives away too many fouls so Elneny is a more reliable option alongside Coquelin.

Hector Bellerin should also return to the starting XI after missing seven games through injury but Shkodran Mustafi’s exclusion will come as a blow for Arsene Wenger.

The centre-back has built a great partnership with Laurent Koscielny but he’ll be forced to sit out until the new year with a hamstring injury.

Gabriel should retain his place but at centre-back, while Bellerin comes into his usual right-back role, opposite Nacho Monreal at left-back.

Petr Cech is the obvious choice for the number one spot, while Alexis Sanchez should spearhead the attack in a central role.

Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain should retain their places in attack after scoring against Stoke but Alex Iwobi and Olivier Giroud miss out.

Mesut Ozil should start in the number 10 role.

In other Arsenal news, Mustafi posted this Twitter message following his latest injury set-back.