Wenger: We must look at big picture

Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal require a ‘global plan’ which includes heavy squad rotation if the club are to be successful this season.

The Gunners boss made nine changes for Thursday’s 1-0 Europa League win at Red Star Belgrade, as the likes of Nacho Monreal, Sead Kolasinac, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Alexandre Lacazette remained at home.

Further changes are expected for tomorrow’s Premier League trip to struggling Everton as Arsenal look to recover from their defeat at Watford last weekend.

“It is impossible to come off that intensity (against Red Star) and then play against Everton,” Wenger said when asked if wholesale changes could be expected at Goodison Park.

“Of course, I left 10 or 11 players at home and I decided to rotate at the start of the season.

“It is important to see that these players get stronger and stronger in every game. We play on Tuesday again, at home, so we have to have a global plan. We have to.”

Laurent Koscielny and Aaron Ramsey should be in contention against an Everton side with just two wins in eight games, but Wenger expects ex-Sunderland loanee Danny Welbeck to be out for up to three weeks.

That could lead to Ozil coming back into the side having been on the bench at Watford, while Sanchez is likely to have recovered from a small muscular issue to be involved.