Arsenal news: Arsene Wenger to ring the changes for Hull FA Cup tie

Alex Iwobi to come into the squad, with Calum Chambers, Mathieu Flamini, Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud expected to start.

Arsene Wenger is preparing to make significant changes to his Arsenal team for Tuesday’s FA Cup fifth round replay against Hull City amid what has been the congested period of the season.

• Wenger fears that Arsenal fans' unrest could harm his players

Arsenal have just completed a sequence of five matches in 15 days and will play the first of four matches in 12 days at Hull on Tuesday in the FA Cup. Wenger will still take a full squad to Hull but there are also likely to be opportunities for senior squad players who did not start in Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Tottenham, such as Calum Chambers, Mathieu Flamini, Alex Iwobi, Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud.

Alex Iwobi is expected to feature against Hull

Asked if changes were necessary following the Spurs game, Wenger said: "We have to. But I'm not so much concerned about playing one player more than another one. It's more about rotating a little bit and keeping the right balance.

• Arsenal showed character to peg back Tottenham

"We lose [Francis] Coquelin of course through suspension. Everyone else looks quite medically available. We should have the same squad that went to Tottenham plus Iwobi. He will be added to the squad. No matter who plays – David Ospina is an example – I have the same respect and I have exactly the same idea that everyone in my squad can play and win the game. We will play the team with a good chance to qualify.”

Francis Coquelin will miss the match through suspension

Depending on whether they beat Hull, Arsenal will face either Watford in the FA quarter-finals at The Emirates on Sunday or potentially West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League on Saturday. “The next round is next Saturday and we had to fit it [the replay] in somewhere - ideally it is not the best position for us but I could not see any other solution,” said Wenger.

"You see very well we are in a position, we always have to win the next game. It is always the most important game of our lives because it is treated like that by everyone else. It is the most important game of the season as it is the next one.”

Olivier Giroud will likely start at the KC Stadium

Asked what he saw in Iwobi, who has progressed through Arsenal’s academy, Wenger said: “What I see in him is a creative player with a high level of workrate. He has a good team spirit and develops very well. He has a big passion for the game. Overall he can score a goal as well, he can play on the flanks or down the middle. He's a very interesting player.”

Calum Chambers on the mentality he must have at Arsenal

Arsenal defender Calum Chambers says he must keep looing to improve if he wants to be an Arsenal regular, in comments to the club’s official website.

The defender has found game time hard to come by at the Emirates this season, having made just ten appearances in the Premier League so far.

That has arguably been a disappointing return for him especially given he was a regular in the side last season, making 23 appearances in the league across the campaign.

He is still one of the future though and he says he must be looking to continuously improve if he is to be a first team regular in future.

“I have to keep striving to want more, wanting to improve,” he told arsenal.com.

“The level of the games now means you have to keep at your game every week. My mindset is on improving massively.”

“You have to want to be a better player so I think from a young age you have to have a good attitude and want to learn and improve.”

The problem for Chambers is breaking into a Gunners defence that has been highly impressive in the Premier League this season.

They are currently the joint second best in the division, having only conceded 22 so far, with Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny forming a solid defensive partnership so far.

Hector Bellerin has also made the right back spot his further reducing Chambers’ chances of becoming a regular in the Arsenal first team.

Arsene Wenger is likely to rotate his squad as they fight on three fronts though, and the defender will be hoping he is given his chance to impress between now and the end of the season.

Arsenal news: Calum Chambers primed to fill midfield role in crucial Champions League game with Olympiakos

Calum Chambers has been undergoing an intense programme of preparation in the past week to familiarise himself with playing central midfield ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League decider against Olympiakos on Wednesday.

• How can United, Arsenal and Chelsea qualify?

Although Aaron Ramsey and Mathieu Flamini are almost certain to start in Athens, Arsène Wenger has lost four other central midfielders to injury. The Arsenal manager now regards Chambers as his main back-up and a player who will need to feature in that position during a sequence of six matches in less than four weeks.

Aaron Ramsey is expected to start in Greece on Wednesday

Chambers has started only once in midfield since joining Arsenal 17 months ago when he struggled in a 2-0 defeat against Southampton on New Year’s Day, but Wenger and his staff have been specifically coaching him in that role since Santi Cazorla ruptured his knee ligaments against Norwich City nine days ago. As well as working on the training ground, Chambers played in midfield for the Under-21 team last Tuesday and also came on as a substitute during the last 10 ­minutes of the 3-1 win against Sunderland on Saturday.

• Arsenal may have to sacrifice Europe to win Premier League

Wenger had previously always started Chambers, 20, as a centre-back this season – and the player feels most comfortable in that ­position – but he does believe that he has the technical attributes to fill in until either Mikel Arteta or Jack Wilshere return from injury or the club recruit in January.

Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, knows his side must beat Olympiakos

Francis Coquelin, another long-term absentee, and Cazorla are unlikely to return much before the spring but Wilshere is due back in January. A major question mark also con­tinues to hang over ­whether Arteta can again play at full inten­sity amid a series of calf injuries. Although Wenger has money an dan interest in the Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho, the club’s scouts are focused on loan solutions in January.

Wenger is likely to make few changes on Wednesday from the team that defeated Sunderland although Theo Walcott is expected to start in one of the front three positions in place of Joel Campbell, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Olivier Giroud.

Olivier Giroud scored for both sides on Saturday, but is expected to start in Athens

Arsenal must win either by two clear goals or score at least three times in a one-goal victory to ­pro­gress to the last 16 of the Champions League for what would be a 16th successive year.

Olympiakos have a perfect record of 12 consecutive wins domestically but Bayern Munich did come to Athens and win 3-0 in September.

Koscielny is the best defender in the Premier League, insists Ferdinand

The former England and Manchester United star has been impressed with the Frenchman's performances at the heart of the Arsenal defence this season

Laurent Koscielny has developed into the best central defender in the Permier League, according to Rio Ferdinand.

The France international was at his commanding best alongside Per Mertesacker on Wednesday night as Arsenal secured a 3-0 win over Olympiacos that booked their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

The 29-year-old has added a level of consistency to his game that has been missing in previous seasons and his form has caught the eye of former Champions League winner Ferdinand. 
"Laurent Koscielny, when he's on form, he's the best defender in the league for me,” Ferdinand told BT Sport.

"He's one of those you don't want to play against – he's quick, he's aggressive."

Koscielny and Mertesacker aside, Ferdinand still feels Arsenal’s defence needs adding to in January when the transfer window reopens with Calum Chambers and Gabriel not yet up to the mark required.

"I think they need some more cover in the central defensive area,” he added. 

Photo: Arsenal starlet Calum Chambers ready for England duty

Calum Chambers is off on England Under-21 duty

Calum Chambers has taken to social media to reveal his excitement ahead of joining up with the England Under-21s on Thursday.

The defender looked chilled out as he headed to meet up with the Three Lions’ U21s on a sunny Thursday morning.

Chambers posted the picture above on his personal Instagram account and wrote: “Off to meet up with the england U21’s

England’s Under-21 side are preparing for their European Championship qualifier against Kazakhstan on Tuesday.

Chambers has been limited to two Premier League appearances for Arsenal so far this season. His last appearance for the north London club came in the 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the third round of the League Cup last month.

He will be hoping to be involved when Arsenal return to top-flight action with a trip to Watford on 17 October after the international break.

Arsenal’s win over Manchester United last weekend left the Gunners in second place in the table and two points behind leaders Manchester City.

Watch Calum Chambers’ and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s brilliant warm-up before Arsenal v Manchester United

• Calum Chambers might not be an obvious choice when it comes to picking the most technically skilled players at Arsenal, but this warm-up with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain proves he’s got some serious skills.
• Ahead of Arsenal’s 3-0 demolition of Manchester United, the pair warmed up with some long range volleys, and it’s strangely hypnotic to watch.
• Of the pair, only Chamberlain played any part in the match, getting on for the last 15 minutes, and it just goes to demonstrate the depth of quality in Arsene Wenger’s squad.
• 
• Fair play boys! (Picture: Getty)
• 

Arsenal: Calum Chambers credits Arsene Wenger for his development

Calum Chambers insists that Arsene Wenger has played a massive role in his development since arriving at the Emirates from Southampton in 2014. The England international had a torrid time when given his first start of the season against Liverpool following the unavailability of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny but has composed himself in the past few weeks and has put in a good show in the subsequent games he has been deployed in.

The defender can play in the centre of defence or at right back but needs more experience and game time to establish himself in the first eleven. Chambers revealed that Wenger talks to him throughout training and also gives him confidence at half time during a game to go out there and play his best football.

"I'd probably say the best piece of advice the boss has given me is just to relax and enjoy myself in games," Chambers told Arsenal's official website. "Before the game or at half-time he would tell me to relax, to just play with confidence and enjoy it.

"I probably think that's the best advice he's given me because it helped me in my game. I can then relax, go onto the pitch and express myself which is useful.

"He's improved me massively. Over the past year I think I've improved in my game a lot. He goes through little things with me on the pitch and individual stuff. He gives me advice so over the past year my game has improved massively."

The manager has come under immense pressure over the past week for his team selection against Olympiacos, which led them to lose at home against the Greek champions. The Gunners are without a single point in the group stages of the Champions League and are currently stationed bottom behind the likes of Dinamo Zagreb.

Their double header against Bayern Munich will play a major role in shaping their destiny for qualification into the round of 16 later in October. The Gunners shall now face Manchester United in a league game at the Emirates on 4 October where a win can see them go on top of the league should other results fall their way.