Arsenal are already riding a wave of early season momentum going into Saturday's late kick-off against Bournemouth.
Back-to-back victories over Crystal Palace and Leicester City at the start of the campaign mean the Gunners are only one of two teams with a 100 per cent winning record in the Premier League - the other being defending champions Manchester City - and they also enjoyed an impressive pre-season to add to the positive mood surrounding the club.
The unbeaten run will be put to the test against newly-promoted Bournemouth as Mikel Arteta returns to the Vitality Stadium which is where he took charge of Arsenal for the first time officially having been appointed as head coach, at the time, all the way back in December 2019.
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And the good news for the Spaniard is that he has a near full-strength squad at his disposal with Reiss Nelson the only confirmed injury absentee. Although, this could leave the Gunners manager facing somewhat of a selection headache when it comes to naming his line-up.
With that said, football.london's Arsenal writers Kaya Kaynak, Tashan Deniran-Alleyne, Bailey Keogh and Tom Canton are on hand to step into the firing line and offer their assistance to Arteta by providing their say on who should start for the visitors at the Vitality Stadium.
Kaya Kaynak - Arsenal Writer
With the height Bournemouth possess up front in Keifer Moore I'd be looking to make some tweaks in the backline that would allow Arsenal to cope better. This means bringing in Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney for the game even though Ben White and Oleksandr Zincehnko have been tremendous recently.
There is a temptation to shift Zinchenko into the left-eight role now that I've moved him out of defence, but with Xhaka playing the way he is, how do you drop him?! That would be a sub to make as the game goes on though maybe.
Aside from that much of this Arsenal team picks itself for me, not because of the lack of options, but rather the form of those who have been playing recently. It's tough on the likes of Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe who will be keen to make an impact on the Premier League team this season but with Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli on such a hot streak you can't really drop either of them and for me, Bukayo Saka simply has to play.
Kaynak's Arsenal XI vs Bournemouth: Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Odegaard, Xhaka; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
Tom Canton - The Arsenal Way Writer
Without sounding like a broken record, it is no surprise that with Mikel Arteta’s confirmation of a fully fit squad that there is no reason to change a winning formula. The excitement around this current Arsenal team is palpable and the continuation of the form from the opening two games will only continue to step up the expectation.
The line-up has a balance to it that so many previous sides that Arsenal have constructed just lacked. Of course, there are vulnerabilities. With how Oleksandr Zinchenko and Granit Xhaka push forwards, Gabriel Magalhaes will be exposed on the counter, and he needs to be good enough to deal with that.
Kieran Tierney’s introduction along with Takehiro Tomiyasu will come at some stage but almost certainly for now the pair will be introduced as substitutes. Zinchenko’s position in the side will be weighted on the game state and should Arsenal be holding a narrow lead he might make way earlier.
Ultimately though, until there’s a seriously poor display or an injury nothing should change except when the fixtures begin to stack up. That is when change can be expected.
Canton's Arsenal XI vs Bournemouth: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Jesus
Bailey Keogh - The Arsenal Way Writer
After an excellent performance against Leicester in the opening home game of the season, it would not make sense for Mikel Arteta to change the line-up. For this reason, he must keep the team how it was.
Despite Takehiro Tomiyasu ready being ready for selection again, Ben White deserves to start if he is deemed fit enough after picking up a knock towards the end of the game against the foxes. William Saliba deserves to start at centre-back following his dominance alongside Gabriel Magalhaes, despite scoring the own goal last week.
The midfield currently picks itself with Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka in a more defensive pivot to give the defence the needed protection. Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has not been exceptional at the start of the season, but his presence is still key so he must start.
Top scorer Gabriel Jesus should lead the line for Arsenal with Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka supporting him from the wing positions giving the Gunners the needed directness in wide areas.
Keogh's Arsenal XI vs Bournemouth: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard; Martinelli, Saka, Jesus
Bench: Turner, Tomiyasu, Tierney, Elneny, Smith Rowe, Pepe, Nketiah, Vieira, Marquinhos
Tashan Deniran-Alleyne - Arsenal Writer
Two games, two wins and six goals scored using the same starting line-up proves Mikel Arteta has found the perfect formula at the start of the season and for that reason, it wouldn't be a shock to anyone if he names an unchanged side for the third successive fixture.
In truth, there's no reason to change the front five as Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Granit Xhaka have started the season impressively, whilst there's still more to come from Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka even if they have gotten off to a slowish start by their own high standards and this could be the game where they get going.
Similarly in defence, there's no need to split up the William Saliba-Gabriel Magalhaes partnership, but there is a decision to be made at full-back on both flanks. Takehiro Takehiro and Kieran Tierney are fully fit again and I think it's time for the latter to return at Oleksandr ZInchencko's expense just for some defensive security.
For the second successive game, Arsenal can name a strong bench with Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe in line to join the likes of Eddie Nketiah, Nicolas Pepe and whichever full-back pairing isn't selected to start amongst the substitutes.
Deniran-Alleyne's Arsenal XI vs Bournemouth: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney; Thomas, Odegaard, Xhaka; Saka, G. Jesus, Martinelli
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