FIFA World Cup 2018: Arsenal stars looking to make it to Russia 2018

In less than two months, the attention of the footballing world will shift from club football and its many variants to the grand showpiece that is the World Cup.

The event, which will be held in Russia, promises to be action-packed with stars from the biggest European clubs expected to be among the principal participants at the global fiesta.

As one of Europe's leading lights, Arsenal F.C are expected to have a sizable representation at the event.

Goalkeeper David Ospina is guaranteed to be on the plane as the number one for Colombia. Los Cafeteros (The Coffee Growers) as the South Americans are known will take on Poland, Senegal, and Japan in Group H.

Laurent Koscielny should be in the party for one of the tournament's favorites, France, as he is a favourite of manager Didier Deschamp. The fate of striker Alexandre Lacazette is uncertain though as he has never been a regular for Les Bleus and given his struggles for the Gunners this season, faces an uphill task to make the party. The French are in Group C and will be confident of qualifying from the group which features Australia, Denmark and Peru.

Barring injuries to certain players or bold selection moves by manager Julen Lopetegui, Arsenal pair Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal may not make the squad for pre-tournament favourites Spain who will be in Group B alongside Iran, Morocco and Iberian neighbours and current European champions, Portugal.

Creator-in-chief Mesut Özil is a shoe-in for defending champions Die Mannschaft of Germany while error-prone center-back Shkodran Mustafi will be praying he makes manager Joachim Löw's squad as the Germans face South Korea, Mexico and Sweden in Group F.

Iwobi will be the go-to guy for Nigeria's Super Eagles

Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck face uphill tasks to make Gareth Southgate's England squad given the peripheral roles they have played for Arsenal this season as a result of injuries and being out of favour with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger. The English are in Group G where they will face Belgium, Tunisia, and Panama.

It is more straightforward for three members of the Arsenal team: Alex Iwobi and Nigeria will face tough opposition in Group D alongside Argentina, Croatia, and Iceland. Mohamed El-Neny (Egypt) should see action in Group A alongside hosts Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay while midfielder Granit Xhaka and his Switzerland teammates go up against pre-tournament favourites Brazil, Serbia, and Costa Rica in Group E.

It is almost impossible to look past Özil as the Arsenal player most likely to go deep into the tournament while others will be looking to make a good impression at the Mundial.