Fabregas, Wilshere, Van Persie, Chamakh: What is Arsenal's Best Lineup?

Cesc Fabregas returned to the Arsenal side last night, but he was somewhat overshadowed by a disciplined display from young English starlet Jack Wilshere. Wilshere has played most of this season for Arsenal. Fabregas has played very little. The question remains, with a fully fit squad how will Wenger choose to line up?

Another glaring debate: With Marouane Chamakh playing such a pivotal role in Arsenal's matches thus far this season, how will Wenger pick his side when Robin Van Persie is finally fit? Blackburn away has been the only match so far when both strikers were available. Wenger chose to go with Van Persie. Since then however Chamakh has shown qualities that Arsenal have lacked in a striker since the days of Alan Smith.

We are of course forgetting the return of Theo Walcott. Where does he fit into this plethora of attacking and flair options that Wenger appears to have in abundance? What of Aaron Ramsay? He is due to return next month.

For a second, let's put Arsenal's injury problems behind them. With a fully fit squad, who will Wenger choose in his first XI and in what formation? Most people could name the first choice Chelsea side.

With the two Manchesters, it is less easy but still fairly formulaic. With Arsenal I'm not sure Wenger even knows his best XI. But then when in recent seasons has he even had that problem. Injuries have more often than not dictated who starts and who doesn't.

Assuming Wenger wants to stick with his Barcelona like 4-3-3 formation, partly because it suits Arsenal's style of play but also because of the players at his disposal it seems the most logical, this is what I see as the options available to him.

The goalkeeping situation is not ideal but for the time being we shall go with Manuel Almunia as he started the season in possession of the gloves. Lukasz Fabianski will have to settle for a return to the bench.

In defence it is most likely going to be Gael Clichy, Thomas Vermaelan, Sebastien Squillaci, Bacary Sagna although Laurent Koscielny and Kieran Gibbs can be equally effective.

The midfield trio is difficult. Does Wenger go with Alexandre Song and Abou Diaby for height and presence with Fabregas in front? Or does he opt for the promising Wilshere?

Although he has shown he can be combative and also disciplined he is another very short Arsenal player on a team that already consists of a number of vertically challenged players. Wenger may opt for Diaby here for protection at set-pieces. The combination of Fabregas and Wilshere, however, is positively mouthwatering.

The forward line is arguably even harder to pick. On the basis that Van Persie is Arsenal's best striker does Wenger flank him with Andrey Arshavin and Samir Nasri? Or does he look to the pace option of Walcott or even the experience of Tomas Rosicky? Could he even drop the lack-lustre Arshavin of late and play Chamakh through the middle with Van Persie and Nasri off him?

One thing is for sure: Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela will be watching on from the bench. Although in this formation both could be very effective.

So who have we left out? Johan Djourou, Emmanuel Eboue, Aaron Ramsay, Denilson, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Craig Eastmond—good players who probably aren't even making the bench. Let's be honest though: When is a Premier League squad ever bereft of injuries? "Never" is probably the short answer to that question.

What have we learnt from this little exercise? The obvious lesson is that Arsenal have much strength in depth. Whether they have the quality to win them trophies is another matter, but they certainly have a strong squad full of players who can adapt and play in numerous positions. They are well equipped to cope with the rigours of a long season and should injuries persist they have the reserves to manage.

The other lesson we can take from this analysis is that Wenger probably will never pick the same side two weeks running. So is there a need for a defined first eleven? Wenger has so many players of similar ability at his disposal that he can rotate his pack over and over and Arsenal will probably lose little in terms of quality.

Arshavin, Nasri, Fabregas, Rosicky, Wilshere, Diaby. These types of player can play anywhere across the pitch and as long as the defence is constant and the forwards keep their shape it is probably irrelevant where they do line up in the end.