The Gunners travel to the Etihad on Sunday where they will face title challenging Manchester City.
On a high after their 3-0 win over Stoke City the Gunners will face an entirely different opposition with Sky Sports football pundit Jamie Carragher saying that Arsene Wenger cannot start with Tomas Rosicky against a physically strong City midfield.
“We have said for years that Arsenal have not got a holding midfielder,” said Carragher. “We spoke about Mathieu Flamini at Anfield. Mikel Arteta is out and I do not think that he is quite the answer.
“They have not got anyone there, so they will just have to go with Aaron Ramsey, who you would expect to come in and has great energy. I would think about putting Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain there just for his physical presence and his power. But you cannot go with Tomas Rosicky.”
The former Liverpool defender thinks the key must be stopping David Silva if the Gunners are to come away with anything.
“I watched Silva at Goodison on Saturday and he was outstanding,” he added. “I think he is one of the best, if not the best, creative players in the league. You are going to that game as Wenger, and who is going to stop Silva?
“Never mind the physicality and who is going to deal with Fernandinho or Fernando, but who is going to stop Silva controlling that game for City?
“They do not have anyone of that type who is aggressive, will get after them, can deal with him and has got the energy. They are not aggressive enough.
“Arsene Wenger will have to go with a plan, as he is playing City, and what are the dangers? Well the obvious one is Silva in those pockets, but they do not have anyone in their squad who can deal with him. And that is where they will fall down.”
