With fourth place already secured and the FA Cup final to look forward to next week,Arsenal go into Sundays game with Norwichin an enviable position.Arsene Wenger can do what he likes against the all but relegated Canaries, whether thats resting his entire Wembley starting XI, or testing out his preferred team to face Hull.With injured players on the way back and next Saturdays clash creeping up quickly, heres how the Gunners should line up at Carrow Road.
#1 Goalkeeper: Lukasz Fabianski
With Wojciech Szczesny a certain starter against Steve Bruce’s side, Sunday’s game gives Lukasz Fabianksi a chance to end his Arsenal career in between the sticks.
The Polish stopper is out of contract this summer, but he deserves his first Premier League appearance of the season to bid farewell.
#2 Right-back: Carl Jenkinson
With nothing to play for against Neil Adams’ side, why risk injury to Bacary Sagna?
The Frenchman has been a model of consistency this season, but it makes sense to give Carl Jenkinson an opportunity to impress, particularly with Sagna’s contract set to expire next month.
Boyhood Gunners fan Jenkinson has managed two assists in 13 appearances – with only six of those coming from the first whistle.
#3 Centre-back: Thomas Vermaelen
It’s a similar situation in central defence, where Thomas Vermaelen should replace the Gunners’ best defender Laurent Koscielny.
Wenger will want the Frenchman, who signed a new contract on Friday, fighting fit for the Cup final and Vermaelen is a more than capable understudy, having won 59% of his tackles and 62% of his headers this season.
#4 Centre-back: Per Mertesacker
Wenger is light on options in the heart of defence so Per Mertesacker retains his spot, despite his importance to their bid for silverware.
The big German, who has completed an impressive 93% of his passes this season, is less injury prone than Koscielny and, on paper, appears more likely to emerge from Sunday’s fixture unscathed.
#5 Left-back: Kieran Gibbs
Kieran Gibbs should be back in the squad after a spell out injured and this dead rubber provides the perfect opportunity to give him some game time.
Wenger may well keep faith with Nacho Monreal at Wembley, although allowing Gibbs an audition after five games out will only improve his options next Saturday.
#6 Centre-midfield: Abou Diaby
Eternally injured Abou Diaby is finally back fit after another lengthy stint on the Gunners’ treatment table.
With Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini required against the Tigers, Diaby should get an opportunity to make his first appearance of the season in East Anglia.
#7 Centre-midfield: Kim Kallstrom
The same goes for Kim Kalkstrom. Why leave Arteta and Co open to mistimed tackles and frustrated lunges from Championship-bound Norwich players?
Kallstrom will not remain at the Emirates when his loan deal expires, so Wenger may as well get some use out of him and protect his key men.
#8 Right-wing: Tomas Rosicky
A substitute in last week’s 1-0 win against West Brom, Tomas Rosicky should be among the freshest of Wenger’s midfielders.
The 33-year-old, who has completed 61% of his 36 take-ons this season, is in with a chance of starting the Cup final, but 60 minutes or so against the Canaries shouldn’t damage his prospects.
#9 Attacking-midfield: Aaron Ramsey
After being forced to miss last week’s game against the Baggies, Aaron Ramsey could do with some more playing time to improve his match sharpness ahead of the Gunners’ crucial Wembley date.
The Welshman, who has nine Premier League goals and eight assists to his name, would benefit from an hour on the pitch before being replaced by Jack Wilshere – if he’s fit enough for a place on the bench.
#10 Left-wing: Mesut Ozil
Mesut Ozil is also finding his feet after a spell out injured and another start will only help his chances of shining against Hull.
The German midfielder has created more chances (71) than any other Arsenal player this season and he’ll fancy his chances of breaking down Norwich’s porous defence.
#11 Striker: Yaya Sanogo
Wenger needs Olivier Giroud fit and firing against Hull so shouldn’t risk him on Sunday. An injury to the Frenchman would seriously dent the Gunners’ chances of ending their nine-year trophy drought.
Yaya Sanogo is yet to score a goal in English football since joining the club last summer, but he should be given an opportunity in the absence of Giroud.
