Arsenal: Arsene Wenger reveals thought process involved in selecting starting XI

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed his thought process behind selecting his starting XI for each game.

The Gunners boss has been in charge of the north London club for 18 years and admitted that he thinks of the lineup for the next much before the actual day of the game.

The former AS Monaco boss confessed that he normally has about eight or nine players, who could possibly start, but always has a doubt on one or two.

Wenger admitted that he goes into the detail of the players' performances in training to their medical condition and how they will suit the particular match before deciding on a particular player for a specific position.

The Frenchman also insists that one should have a team in mind before game day, as he feels that if one cannot decide a day before about the team selection, then it is impossible to come to a decision on the day of the match.

"I always have eight or nine players of my team in my head the day before the game, but there's always a doubt on one or two," Wenger told Arsenal's official site.

"You try to make it as scientific as much as you can, but it's intuitive as well because you have to think if the balance of the team is right or if one player was a bit better in the last training session."

"Has one player got a bit of a cold maybe? When two players are together in your mind, competing for one position, every single detail can go for one of them - experience, confidence under pressure - everything can make a difference," the 65-year-old manager explained.

"I always have a final chat with the medical people to make my mind up and make sure that everybody is alright. I do that on the morning of every game. Then I make my decision."

"Anyway, you always have your team in your head, for the whole week. You never go to bed without thinking about what the next line-up will be."

"You live with that always. That can create uncertainties, because you think about it every day. If you don't know on Friday night, you will not know on Saturday morning so you have to decide in your head early, and go for it," Wenger concluded.