Quantcast

Preview: Arsenal v Bournemouth, Team News, Line-Up & Prediction

By on December 28, 2015

emirates-stadium

It’s time to put Saturday night’s shambles at Southampton behind us and get our title push back on track against Bournemouth this evening.

We missed our chance to move top of the Premier League at St Mary’s but with leaders Leicester playing third-placed Manchester City tomorrow night, we have the ideal opportunity to climb to the summit and put some pressure on our nearest rivals.

The Saints loss was our first defeat in seven matches in all competitions so it’s important Arsene Wenger gets an immediate response from his players to get our title tilt going again.

However, Bournemouth come into the game in superb form having not lost any of their last six league games and they’ve registered recent victories over Chelsea and Manchester United so we know they will be a dangerous threat if we take them too lightly.

Team News

Arsene has no fresh injury concerns to worry about but we do still have a number of players on the treatment table.

Sanchez isn’t expected back from his hamstring injury until the 10th of January while Wilshere, Arteta and Rosicky are still a few weeks away from returning from their respective injuries.

Welbeck is due back in late January but Cazorla and Coquelin won’t be available until around March time as they nurse serious knee injuries.

The boss is expected to freshen things up as the squad looks to play twice in just three days so we could see the likes of Gabriel, Gibbs and Oxlade-Chamberlain all come in.

Preferred XI

Mertesacker had a shocker against Southampton so I’d certainly start Gabriel alongside Koscielny while I’d also give Gibbs a run out and hand Nacho a breather. The Ox for Campbell would be the other change I’d make to the starting eleven.

This would be my line-up:

Prediction

It’s imperative we bounce back immediately from Saturday’s defeat and I think the boss will get a positive response from his players. We’re in too strong a position in the league to simply throw it away and while I do expect Bournemouth to cause us some problems this evening, I think we’ll secure the win in the end.

Arsenal 2-0 Bournemouth 

COYG!!!

One Comment