Alexis Sanchez is set to make his first Premier League start since November after being named in the starting lineup for tonight’s clash against Southampton.
Francis Coquelin returned from injury in the FA Cup against Burnley but Arsene Wenger has chosen to retain the central midfield duo of Aaron Ramsey and Mathieu Flamini, with the French anchorman on the bench.
He is joined there by Theo Walcott, who makes way for Sanchez from Arsenal’s lineup against Chelsea, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Joel Campbell is chosen to complete the attacking quartet in further proof of his growing stature at Arsenal.
January signing Mohamed Elneny, who Wenger had professed himself impressed with after his debut against Burnley in the FA Cup, misses the squad entirely.
Charlie Austin is not part of Southampton’s squad, with scourge of the Gunners on Boxing Day Shane Long leading the line.
Arsenal starting XI: Cech, Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal, Flamini, Ramsey, Campbell, Ozil, Sanchez, Giroud
Substitutes: Ospina, Chambers, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott
Southampton starting XI: Forster, Cedric Soares, Fonte, van Dijk, Bertrand, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Wanyama, Mane, Long, Tadic.
Substitutes: Yoshida, Clasie, Martina, Pelle, Juanmi, Stekelenburg, Targett.
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