Arsenal return to the Emirates for back-to-back home games after their 4-0 win over Everton, this time to play Bournemouth. The Gunners managed a dominant 3-0 victory at the Vitality Stadium earlier this season and will be hoping for a repeat on Saturday.
With the match taking place so soon after Wednesday’s game though, Mikel Arteta has some questions to answer regarding rotation. Players who didn’t start the game like Thomas Partey, Eddie Nketiah and Takehiro Tomiyasu could be in with a shout of coming in.
That said, there is Europa League action to consider next week where Arteta might choose to make the majority of his changes before a trip to Fulham in the league. Fortunately, the football.london Arsenal writers are on hand to give their desired line-ups for the clash with Bournemouth.
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Tom Canton – Arsenal writer
The Europa League provides the best opportunity to rotate the majority of the starting XI but with this Premier League fixture coming so soon after Everton, some changes are perhaps necessary. The obvious switch in is Thomas Partey resuming in central midfield for Jorginho, who was slightly off the pace with some reported illness on Wednesday evening.
With the mobile Ghanaian at the base of the midfield, it could be the chance therefore to allow Fabio Vieira his first Premier League start since the Brentford away game in September. Having the additional creativity against this Bournemouth side could be what it takes to get the Gunners closing the goal-difference to Manchester City even further.
Goals are going to be key and the Gunners have plenty of players who can score them. Keep an eye out for Martin Odegaard who will be looking to score against Bournemouth again and join Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka on double-figures for goals in the league.
Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Everton : Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Vieira, Odegaard; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
Tashan Deniran-Alleyne – Arsenal writer
Why tinker with a winning formula? That should be the only thing to consider ahead of Arsenal's clash against Bournemouth and if I were in Mikel Arteta's shoes, I wouldn't change too much.
In fact, the alternation would be in midfield with Thomas Partey being restored to the starting line-up as Jorginho drops out. That's no slight on the January signing, but the Ghana international was immense in the second half against Everton, proving why he's the Gunners' best option in this position.
With the Europa League round of 16 first-leg away at Sporting CP taking place next week, I'd imagine the likes of Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kieran Tierney, Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe will get a run-out in Lisbon, but they are great options off the bench on Saturday if the game allows for it.
In the continued absence of Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard should lead the line once again and there's a chance for Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka to move up the Premier League top goal scorer charts with this being a game where the home side should dominate and create loads of chances.
Deniran-Alleyne's Arsenal XI vs Bournemouth: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Odegaard, Xhaka; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
Kaya Kaynak – Chief Arsenal writer
With the opportunity to maintain their five-point gap at the top of the Premier League, I'd go strong. The argument for that gets even stronger when you consider Mikel Arteta has the chance to change the full XI during the midweek Europa League clash.
I wouldn't make any changes to the backline. Particularly when you consider how well Oleksandr Zinchenko played in midweek, he has to be in ahead of Kieran Tierney.
In midfield, I would bring Thomas Partey back in for Jorginho. The Italian may be available after his illness, but Partey was imperious after coming on at half-time against Everton in midweek. Ahead of him I'd opt for Martin Odegaard. Fabio Vieira is certainly an option in midfield but given that he'll probably play in Lisbon on Thursday, Granit Xhaka stays in.
Up front with Eddie Nketiah an injury doubt, I'd look to keep Leandro Trossard in the false-nine role. Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, meanwhile, are obvious picks on the wings after their goals in the last few games.
Kaynak's Arsenal XI vs Bournemouth - Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli.
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