Arsenal need rotation ahead of final two Premier League matches
Following a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Manchester United on Sunday, Arsenal placed themselves in pole position to grab a top three place in the Premier League table.  While a potential third place finish at the end of the season is … Continue reading →

Following a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Manchester United on Sunday, Arsenal placed themselves in pole position to grab a top three place in the Premier League table.  While a potential third place finish at the end of the season is no trophy, it does mean two things – the Gunners would be moving in the right direction, as the north London outfit has finished fourth in each of the last two campaigns, and they would also avoid a tricky Champions League qualifier at the beginning of next season.

With Arsenal having two matches left on their Premier League schedule, the Gunners will look to lock up a top three spot a game early when 16th placed Sunderland travel to London on Wednesday.  Although manager Arsene Wenger should certainly not take the match for granted, the French manager should look to rotate the Arsenal side that looked absolutely spent at the weekend in Manchester.

Wenger has used the same starting XI for six consecutive league matches, something that he has never done before during his time with the Gunners.  Midfielders Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey specifically appeared fatigued following the match (Cazorla could only manage 73 minutes).

Luckily for Wenger and his team, England international duo Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere are now fully fit following injury issues.  Walcott, who played a major role in the late equalizing goal for the Gunners on Sunday, would be an ideal replacement for Ramsey out on the right wing.

Ramsey, normally a central midfielder, has been forced out to the wing as of late due to the outstanding form of Cazorla (seven goals and nine assists in league play).  However, Walcott is a natural winger and would slot into the position seamlessly.

Wilshere, who has not started a Premier League match since November, is also a perfect stand-in for Cazorla in the middle of the pitch.  Although Wilshere only played 17 minutes in Manchester at the weekend, the 23-year-old midfielder looked dangerous and sharp, and seemed to give the Gunners a shot in the arm as soon as he arrived on the scene.

Arsenal could also look to Kieran Gibbs at left-back and Gabriel Paulista in central defense, as well as Tomas Rosicky on the left flank to give superstar Alexis Sanchez a bit of a break.

Whichever lineup Wenger chooses for the last two league matches, the Gunners should look to keep their players fresh ahead of the big FA Cup final on May 30th against Aston Villa.