Former Arsenal star Charlie Nicholas has told Arsene Wenger to drop Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil ahead of this weekend’s north London derby.
Both players are heading into the final six months of their respective contracts and are free to talk to foreign clubs from January with Arsene Wenger admitting on Thursday he could be tempted to sell the duo when the window reopens.
Neither Ozil or Sanchez has come close to producing their best form this season and the duo were largely anonymous in the 3-1 defeat at Manchester City before the international break.
Alexandre Lacazette was dropped from the starting line-up for the trip to the Etihad Stadium and Nicholas believes the France international along with Danny Welbeck, who is back in contention after a month out with a groin injury, deserve to play against Spurs.
Nicholas told Sky Sports: ‘If Arsenal are serious about winning these big games, I would go with Alexandre Lacazette and Danny Welbeck and leave Ozil out and Sanchez out.
‘Are they two of our best players? Of course they are, but they don’t do enough in these big games.
‘Welbeck isn’t as talented but what you’ve got to do against a back three is move them about to create chances, while Lacazette is our best finisher and sulky Sanchez doesn’t like playing out wide.
‘I’d play Alex Iwobi as well. People will question me for leaving those two out but it worked against Chelsea.
“I’d have Aaron Ramsey in central midfield with Granit Xhaka, but my concern is that Wenger sticks with his principle of playing two holding midfielders, even though he doesn’t have the right players to play in those positions.’
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