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[Image] How Arsenal should line-up vs Bournemouth: Martinelli starts, no Xhaka or Ozil

By on October 4, 2019

gabriel martinelli 2019

Arsenal welcome Bournemouth to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon as we look to cement our place in the top four. This is the line-up I’d like Unai Emery to select…

Goalkeeper: Leno

Martinez is certainly keeping Leno on his toes as the Argentinean hasn’t put a foot wrong in any of his three appearances so far this season but I still think we should stick with our No.1 for now.

Defence: Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Holding, Tierney

Arsenal suddenly have lots of options in defence after three important players all made their returns in recent games. Bellerin came through his first 90 minutes with the senior team since recovering from a knee ligament injury after playing in the win over Standard Liege but I think it would be too risky to ask him to play again so soon. Chambers is an option and has done well at right-back recently but I think Maitland-Niles is still the better choice until Bellerin can play every week.

Tierney put-in another hugely impressive shift at left-back against Liege and he’s going to be an amazing addition to the Arsenal team. I have a feeling Emery will give him a rest and start Kolasinac on Sunday but Tierney’s fitness levels look superb so I hope we see him making his Premier League debut on Sunday.

Holding should definitely start as he’s a real calming presence in defence and doesn’t make the basic errors we’ve seen from Luiz. Sokratis was forming a solid partnership with Holding before his injury last season so let’s see them back together.

bukayo saka arsenal

Midfield: Torreira, Guendouzi, Ceballos

I’ve said it a million times; Arsenal are far better off without Xhaka in midfield and we saw it proven once again on Thursday night. We were more mobile and balanced with the Swiss star out the team and Torreira looked far more comfortable playing in his proper position in front of the defence.

I hope we see Guendouzi playing alongside Torreira this weekend with Ceballos just edging out Willock for the advanced midfield position. That trio has it all. Ozil has been frozen out by Emery but I’d have him as an option from the bench.

Attack: Martinelli, Saka, Aubameyang

Lacazette remains out with an ankle injury so obviously Aubameyang will return to start up front for Arsenal. The Gabon hitman has been in superb goal-scoring form this season so let’s hope that continues against Bournemouth.

Saka is set to come back into the side after being rested in the Europa League and the teenager has suddenly become a regular for Arsenal following a string of impressive performances. Nelson will feel unfortunate to drop out as he played well against Liege.

Pepe looks worryingly low on confidence right now and nothing seems to be going right for him. Emery will probably start him on Sunday and if he does I pray Pepe has a stormer but I think we should take him out of the limelight for now.

Plus, Martinelli deserves to keep his place after an excellent performance against Liege. He scored another brace as a striker but Emery says his best position is on the right wing so let’s see how he does out there on Sunday.

This is the starting eleven I hope we’ll see from Arsenal:

football formations