Wenger considers resting Ozil, Wilshere & Mertesacker

 

The French coach is preparing significant squad rotation for the first time this season in a Premier League match, with the busy festive period in mind

The French coach is planning significant squad rotation for the first time this season in a Premier League match ahead of a glut of December fixtures. 

Key trio Ozil, Wilshere and Mertesacker have been pinpointed as most in need of a rest as the Gunners balance the need to keep their best players fresh with maintaining their excellent start to the campaign.

Two of Tomas Rosicky, Mathieu Flamini and Theo Walcott are likely to start against Hull after being on the bench for the 3-0 win at Cardiff City last Saturday, while club captain Thomas Vermaelen is primed for a rare start.

Wenger will make a late decision on Bacary Sagna, who is struggling with a hamstring injury sustained against Cardiff, and Carl Jenkinson has been placed on stand-by.

The Gunners host Hull on Wednesday ahead of a testing six-day period in which they play Everton at home before trips to Napoli and Manchester City.

Ozil has started all 15 of Arsenal's Premier League and Champions League matches since his deadline-day transfer from Real Madrid, while his countryman Mertesacker has only missed out twice in those competitions this season and both times through illness.

Wilshere has been less frequently used than the German duo but Arsenal are wary of over-playing him due to his long-standing ankle problems.

Speaking at his pre-match media briefing on Tuesday morning, Wenger said he was planning on rotating his squad for each game.

“I rotate considering the level of fatigue,” he explained. “I try to limit the number because I do not want to disrupt the balance of the team, so I do that in every single game. When you play so many games of that intensity, we expect to lose one or two players.

“We have some indications - my eyes, some objective data and, as well, some positions where it’s more demanding on the physical front than others.

“We have so many games that in some positions I will have to change; the full-back position is one that is very demanding.

"Central defence is a little bit less demanding on the physical side, it’s more on the concentration side.”