Tonight Arsenal vs Manchester city

Only Lukasz Fabianski, Bacary Sagna and Laurent Koscielny have played throughout Christmas. Having beaten Chelsea so comprehensively on December 27, Wenger swapped the remaining eight two days later and let in a late goal to draw 2-2 at Wigan. He brought the same eight back at Birmingham on New Year’s Day and steamrollered Birmingham 3-0.

With the FA Cup Third Round coming on Saturday, the manager may broadly stick with the same squad this time and change it around when Leeds come to Emirates Stadium at the weekend.

It is a gamble but this is one of the biggest squads Wenger has had.

There were no unfamiliar names on show at Wigan or Birmingham but Alex Song, Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie were omitted from the squad for the first game and Marouane Chamakh for the second.

The current strength of personnel is based on the gradual maturing of players who were given their debuts as teenagers – often in the Carling Cup.

Arsenal-Chelsea 3-1