Mikel Arteta’s pre-match press conference for the Bournemouth game didn’t give the fans much confidence regarding the injury situation at the club. As expected, Arteta made wholesale changes to the squad that managed a narrow win over Brentford in the EFL Cup, but the games Everton and Tottenham saw Arsenal lose Gabriel Martinelli, Declan Rice, Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka. We already had Thomas Partey and Jurrien Timber out earlier than that. 

I had a hunch that Fabio Vieira picked up a knock in the Tottenham like Rice, to be substituted at half time, but the gaffer stated that it was a ‘tactical decision’, only to tell the press yesterday that Vieira and William Saliba picked knocks as well. The depth of the squad will be truly tested in the coming days, as Champions League sees Arsenal visit the Stade Felix Bollaert-Delelis to take on RC Lens before the heavyweight clash against Manchester City next Sunday.

Bournemouth enjoyed a good run out in the EFL Cup earlier this week, easing past Stoke City with goals from Dominic Solanke and Joe Rothwell, but they will not be relishing this clash with Arsenal, as the Gunners have won 11 of their 14 encounters with the Cherries. Early in the campaign last season, two goals from Martin Odegaard and a wonder maiden strike for Saliba saw Arsenal run out as 3-0 winners, but the return clash at the Emirates is one that would forever stay in the hearts of Arsenal fans with Reiss Nelson scoring a last gasp winner in one roller coaster of a match.

Bournemouth is currently enduring the worst winless streak in the Premier League dating back to last season, with 10 games (three draws and seven defeats) without a win. They will be resting their hopes on Dominic Solanke, that has been directly involved in 10 goals in his last 17 Premier League appearances (six goals, four four assists).

To team news, I have touched on the injury situation at Arsenal, but Bournemouth have a few niggles of their own. Solanke was on the end of a nasty tackle in the Stoke game and had to depart the pitch on the 85th minute for Kieffer Moore, despite coming on as a half time sub. Tyler Adams is yet to make his long-awaited debut since he arrived from Leeds United and fellow ex-Leeds player, Luis Sinisterra, is a fitness doubt. Chris Mepham will face a fitness test, while Emliano Marcondes, Alex Scott and Ryan Fredericks are out of contention.

Bournemouth and Arsenal Predicted Lineups

Bournemouth: Neto; Kerkez, Mepham, Zabarnyi, Aarons; Christie, Cook, Billing; Kluivert, Tavernier, Solanke

Arsenal: Raya; White, Gabriel, Saliba, Zinchenko; Jorginho, Havertz, Odegaard; Nelson, Nketiah, G. Jesus

Injury / Suspension Updates

Bournemouth: Lloyd Kelly (calf), Chris Mepham (knock), Ryan Fredericks (calf), Emiliano Marcondes (foot), Alex Scott (knee), Dominic Solanke (ankle)

Arsenal: Jurrien Timber (knee), Gabriel Martinelli (hamstring), Declan Rice (back), Leandro Trossard (muscle), Thomas Partey (groin), Bukayo Saka (knock), William Saliba (knock), Fabio Vieira (knock)

Form Guide

Bournemouth

• Last Five Games: W D D L W
• Last Result: Bournemouth 2-o Stoke (Solanke 51′, Rothwell 54′)
• Leading Goalscorer: Dominic Solanke (4)

Arsenal Form

• Last Five Games: W W W D W
• Last Result: Brentford 0-1 Arsenal (Nelson 8′)
• Leading Goalscorer: Bukayo Saka (3)

Gooner Daily predicts a 3 – 0 win.

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