The Formation

I would go with a 4-4-2 (4-4-1-1) with one of the strikers dropping a bit deeper when we are passing the ball around.

------------------- Cech -------------------

Azpi----Cahill------Ivanovic-----Cole

Hazard----Luiz---Lampard---Ramires

---------------------Ba---------------------

-------------------Torres-------------------

Explaining some decisions

No Mata: Keeping it short, I would leave out Mata as he looked quite tired the last game. He could still be useful as a real impact sub. if things don't work out as planned. Though I have to admit this was the hardest of all decisions because Mata tends to be really good against Arsenal and there is also the small issue of him being statistically our best player.

On Ba: Ba could do a really good job in this position as he has the frame to protect the ball against Wilshere and Diaby, and the ability to link up with his team mates. Other than that he has done it before and looked really good for Newcastle when defending and attacking. He brings something totally different to the position than the likes of Mata, Oscar and Hazard and that is a real presence in the box. But the real reason I chose him lies in his great hold up play. That ability would allow us, after retaining possession, to play the ball much faster up front, other players could run more aggressively into open space as the of losing possession is minimal with Ba. We could play a real effective counter-attacking game against a team that generally has lots of possession.

Conclusion: Ba would give us defensively (not only through his height) more than Mata and offensively something different but potentially as effective.

On our wingers: I chose Ramires on the left because I rate him higher offensively than Bertrand. Against Napoli he played this position, and was as a whole really effective. Further more I believe both Rami and Hazard would give us another option when we are in possession and Arsenal have most men behind the ball. In addition to the usual things we do Rami and Hazard (to a certain extent) could provide us with width and good quality of crosses. I would like to point out especially the quality of Rami's crosses (left and right) as being quite excellent in my opinion. The one against Napoli for Drogba and the one just recently for Lampard were really good hit crosses. Arsenal has Mertesacker in there but I would fancy one of the two of Torres and Ba against Vermaelen or Koscielny.

Conclusion: More danger from crosses without losing losing to much of what we can do usually.