Team News: Francis Coquelin, Mohamed Elneny in for Arsenal

Francis Coquelin and Mohamed Elneny have come into the Arsenal starting lineup for the visit of Middlesbrough this afternoon.

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger makes two changes from the side that defeated Swansea City last weekend as he looks for an eighth straight win in all competitions.

Both of the changes are at defensive midfield, with Santi Cazorla out injured and Granit Xhaka suspended after his red against the Swans.

Alexis Sanchez continues to lead the line, with support from Alex Iwobi, Mesut Ozil and Theo Walcott, while the unchanged back four sees Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny continue their partnership at the heart of the defence.

For the visitors, Aitor Karanka drops three players from the XI that lost to Watford last weekend, with Calum Chambers missing out on the matchday squad altogether and Daniel Ayal coming into the back four.

Adam Clayton and Adama Traore come into the middle of the park, meaning that Stuart Downing and Cristhian Stuani must start the match from the bench.

Arsenal: Cech; Monreal, Koscielny, Mustafi, Bellerin; Coquelin, Elneny; Iwobi, Ozil, Walcott; Sanchez Subs: Ospina, Gibbs, Gabriel, Reine-Adelaide, Mailand-Niles, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lucas Perez

Middlesbrough: Valdes; Barragan, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; De Roon, Clayton, Traore, Forshaw, Ramirez; Negredo Subs: Guzan, Bernardo, Fabio, De Sart, Stuani, Downing, Nugent

Keep up with all of the action from the Emirates this afternoon with Sports Mole's live text commentary here.