Arsenal will look to bounce back from their worst Premier League start in 35 years against Bournemouth at the Emirates on Saturday.
The Gunners were forced to endure the two-week international break following two consecutive league defeats, but they will be encouraged to find their opponents still point-less after three games.
Arsenal
Despite last year’s FA Cup triumph, years of failed title-challenges culminating in a finish outside the Top Four has nurtured an explosive environment in the Arsenal contingent. This is clearer now more than ever following the humiliating defeat at the hands of Liverpool in the last round.
The French manager knows anything other than a victory against the Cherries on Saturday will reignite the calls for his head.
The pressure to get things right this time will be enormous: all the way from getting the team into the right gear to getting the right team selection.
If Wenger has done his homework, the club’s record summer transfer signing Alexandre Lacazette would not be sitting this one out – and neither would be Sead Kolasinac. A little re-shuffle would be required in central midfield too as the pair Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey were not up to par against the Reds. At the heart of defence, Wenger is likely to opt for Holding Koscielny and Monreal.
And while calls for Mesut Ozit to improve his form continue, Wenger will have little choice but to hope the German will deliver against Bournemouth as club star Santi Cazorla is still on the road to recovery from a calf operation. Alex Iwobi is also doubtful for this fixture.
Predicted Line-up: Cech, Monreal, Koscielny, Holding, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Elneny, Bellerin, Sanchez, Ozil, Lacazette
Bournemouth
The statistics are not kind to the Cherries here. They have won only once away from home so far this year, and their record at the Emirates does little to dispel this–three games: three defeats. And while they fought to a terrific 3-3 draw against the Gunners last term, they can’t brag about much else.
Manager Eddie Howe will not be throwing in the towel yet, however, as Bournemouth emerged with some positive signs from their meeting with Manchester City before the international break, having succumbed to defeat only through Raheem Sterling’s super-late goal at the Vitality Stadium.
Long-term absentee Callum Wilson is still unavailable for Bournemouth while Nathan Ake, Junior Stanislas and Simon Francis will leave Howe with a late decision.
Predicted Line-up: Begovic, Smith, Cook, Ake, Mings, Daniels, Gosling, Surman, Arter, King, Defoe
Head-to-Head
The two sides have met five times before, with Arsenal winning four and drawing one of those matches.
Arsenal v Bournemouth 3-0 October 1987
Arsenal v Bournemouth 2-0 December 2015
Bournemouth v Arsenal 0-2 February 2016
Arsenal v Bournemouth 3-1 November 2016
Bournemouth v Arsenal 3-3 January 2017