Arsenal will be looking to advance to the fourth round of the FA Cup when they face Championship side Preston North End at Deepdale on Saturday evening.
Gunners come into the fixture on the back of an equally disappointing and morale-boosting result against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Tuesday night, in which they came from 3-0 down to salvage a 3-3 draw against the 10-man Cherries.
Goals from Alexis Sanchez, Lucas Perez and Olivier Giroud saw the north London snatch a point, but manager Arsene Wenger will be demanding more from his team as they make the long trip to Lancashire.
With a number of injuries and illness within his squad, the French manager could be forced to make a number of changes to his starting XI at Deepdale, to face a Preston side who are just six points outside of the play-off positions in England’s second tier following their 1-0 win against Burton Albion on Monday.
Here is Football FanCast’s rotated Arsenal XI that will pick up the win on Saturday…
GK: David Ospina
The Colombian goalkeeper’s only starts for Arsenal this season have come in all six of their Champions League group matches, but his patience should be rewarded with a place between the sticks in a domestic cup competition against Preston on Saturday.
The 28-year-old has kept two clean sheets this term, and with Petr Cech looking far from his best at the moment, he will be looking to impress at Deepdale in order to give Arsene Wenger a real selection headache.
RB: Carl Jenkinson
While he is undoubtedly Arsenal’s first choice right-back, Hector Bellerin had a bit of a nightmare in the 3-3 draw with Bournemouth on Tuesday night and the Spaniard could be rested for the trip north to face Preston.
Despite the fact that he could leave the club this month, Jenkinson that could step in on the right-hand side of the defence after previously appearing twice in the League Cup. He will be looking to impress any potential suitors.
CB: Rob Holding
Competing against the likes of Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi for a spot at centre-back, Holding is another young player who’s had to be patient when it comes to first team football this season.
However, the 21-year-old featured in all three of Arsenal’s League Cup matches this season and with plenty of experience at Championship level with Bolton last term – he made 26 appearances in England’s second tier – the defender is ready-made for another cup clash at Deepdale.
CB: Gabriel
The Brazilian centre-back came on as a substitute for the injured Laurent Koscielny against Bournemouth, and with few options available to Arsene Wenger for the trip to Deepdale, Gabriel should get a start.
He has found first team football hard to come by since moving to the Emirates, and he will be determined to prove to Wenger that he is good enough to be named in the starting XI every week.
LB: Nacho Monreal
Kieran Gibbs started at left-back in all of Arsenal’s three League Cup ties – even captaining them in the last one against Southampton – and he would surely start against Preston had he not picked up a knee injury on Boxing Day.
With little competition on the left-hand side of the defence, it will be first choice Nacho Monreal that starts at Deepdale. He will be looking to put in a stronger performance in the backline than the one that saw the Gunners go 3-0 down against Bournemouth in midweek.
CM: Granit Xhaka
With Francis Coquelin picking up a hamstring injury against Bournemouth, Santi Cazorla still on the sidelines and Mohamed Elneny jetting off to represent Egypt in the African Cup of Nations, Arsene Wenger has little choice but to play Granit Xhaka at Deepdale.
The Switzerland international will provide some experience and steel in the middle of the park, and he certainly recovered well from a poor start – he gave away the penalty for Bournemouth’s second goal – to help the Gunners salvage a point on the south coast in midweek.
CM: Jeff Reine-Adelaide
As we mentioned previously, the injuries and absences are piling up for Arsene Wenger in the middle of the field, so there could be an opportunity for Reine-Adelaide to get a rare start in Lancashire.
The 18-year-old started in all three of Arsenal’s League Cup ties this season – his only appearances of the campaign – and after impressing, he could be given another chance to stake his claim for a first team spot in the Premier League.
RAM: Alex Iwobi
With Theo Walcott, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez all set to be absent for the trip to Deepdale with injury, illness and being rested respectively, Arsene Wenger will be looking to the likes of Alex Iwobi to step up in the attacking midfield positions at Deepdale.
The 20-year-old has scored three goals this season – including his side’s second in their 2-0 win against Crystal Palace on New Year’s Day – and he will be keen to add to tally in the FA Cup.
CAM: Aaron Ramsey
The Welshman has primarily been featuring in a deeper midfield role for Arsenal this season, but as he did against Bournemouth in midweek in the absence of Mesut Ozil, he could get his opportunity in the central attacking midfield slot on Saturday evening.
With a number of the Gunners’ attacking stars missing, Ramsey will know that he is one of the players who needs to step up going forward if the north London outfit are to avoid an upset.
LAM: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
The winger replaced the injured Francis Coquelin in the first half against the Bournemouth and he was one of the few Arsenal players that stood out in a largely drab performance.
The England international tracked back well on a difficult night for the man behind him on the right – Hector Bellerin – while also trying to offer that impetus going forward. With the injuries mounting, he could start on the left on Saturday.
ST: Lucas Perez
Due to the form of Alexis Sanchez and, in more recent times, Olivier Giroud, summer signing Lucas Perez has found first team minutes hard to come by in the Premier League this season.
However, the Spaniard scored a stunning volley in the 3-3 draw with Bournemouth on Tuesday night, and the brilliant technique showed the quality he can bring to the team.
Despite suffering from an ankle problem, Wenger will be hoping that Perez is fit lead the line against Preston.