Arsene Wenger must really be feeling the Christmas spirit.
The man with a reputation for being frugal has realised it’s the season for giving.
Aaron Ramsey was ruled out for the game against West Ham with ANOTHER hamstring injury, but that has meant an early Christmas present for Jack Wilshere.
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Arsenal have lined up in a 3-4-2-1 formation for the most part of this season, with the Welshman prospering in his liberated midfield role.
But his injury has forced Wenger to become a footballing Father Christmas.
The Gunners boss has had to move to a conventional four-man defence and has organised the rest of his team into a Christmas tree formation.
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Not only has he made a seasonal change to his formation, but Wenger has handed Wilshere his first Premier League start for Arsenal since May 2015.
Olivier Giroud is the star sitting at the top of the tree, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez are the two shiniest baubles in support and the flashing bulbs in midfield are Alex Iwobi, Granit Xhaka and Wilshere.
What do you make of that Arsenal fans?
The Hammers are coming off the back of a massive win against Chelsea at the London Stadium last weekend and 20-year-old Ainsley Maitland-Niles will need to be on his game in his first ever league start.
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Wilshere is a natural replacement for Ramsey in midfield and it would have been a hammer blow to the 25-year-old’s hopes of making a late bid to get on the plane for the World Cup.
Who says Wenger is a scrooge?