Arsenal travel down to the South Coast this morning to take on a Bournemouth side managed by the highly respected Eddie Howe,and the Cherries are definitely going to be well organised and tactically prepared to face the Gunners.
This is another must-win game for Arsene Wenger’s side to stay in touch with the race for the title, and a win will take them to third place just six points behind Chelsea ahead of tomorrows big derby against Spurs. But as Arsenal played against Crystal Palace just two days ago, there are certainly set to be a certain amount of rotation to keep some fresh legs on the field.
Mesut Ozil missed the Palace game with illness and is also expected to be absent today, so the full list of fit players should be as follows….
Cech, Ospina, Bellerin, Jenkinson, Holding, Gabriel, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Mustafi, Monreal, Elneny, Coquelin, Xhaka, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Reine-Adelaide, Walcott, Iwobi, Sanchez, Giroud, Welbeck.
So let’s first look at the starting XI against Palace, and see where Le Prof is likely to make changes…
Cech
Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal
Elneny, Xhaka, Iwobi
Sanchez, Giroud, Lucas
To start with we have the great news that Mustafi is now fit again, and I expect him to replace Gabriel in the back four, but otherwise the defence will stay the same.
Coquelin was given a rest on Sunday, so I’m sure he will return alongside Xhaka, and as Iwobi put in such a promising shift in Ozil’s position I expect him to start once again. It is possible that Wenger will play Ramsey instead but it is more likely he will be brought on later in the game as he is eased back to full fitness.
Up front is where I see the biggest changes, with Alexis being returned to the centre-forward position, and Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain returned to the wings. Their fresh legs will allow them to use their speed to great effect against a defensive set up as expected this evening. There is a chance that Giroud coud start again after his heroics against Palace but I think he will be on the bench until Alexis starts to look tired.
So this is the line-up I expect to see today….
Cech
Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal
Xhaka, Coquelin, Iwobi
Walcott, Sanchez, The Ox
What do you think will be Wenger’s team today?
Admin
Bournemouth won’t pack the bus.. They will play football. Admin, I like your line up. Mustafi should be back if fully fit. Walcott and Ox on the flank.. Giroud can be brought in later. Perez for Walcott or Ox later in the game. If Walcott is not fully fit, I will start iwobi on the flank while ozil slot in his number ten position. If ozil and Walcott ain’t fit, then iwobi in ozil position and Perez starts on the flank..
true, very good and possible lineup..
but Ramsey is fit, you think he’ll ever see the bench again? an injury is the only thing that stops Wenger from playing him week in week out
I think perez n Iwobi should be given first team run ins.. …….
Perez at the expense of who? That’s the problem. But I like him to play. Giroud? Give him a chance until goes back to OG that we knew. Then I don’t wish hr should.
I like Perez and Iwobi, but the fact is that Wenger played them the other day because he knew he had to rotate two days later. The less players that appeared against Palace the better. Remember the last time we had 2 games in 3 days and didn’t rotate?
What.. Are… You… Talking… About!?!?!
Iwobi has been a regular starter for us for quite a while now.
I like that line-up. Should be more than strong enough to win if we play our A game.
I always believe that the OX is not a first-half player. He is always good coming off the bench. And as for Iwobi…he just can’t seat on the bench now, to me, he is second to Carzorla when it comes to holding balls to beat opponents.
i do believe d gunners will grind out d much needed 3 points tonight.come on u gunners
i love Lucas,why cant he get a start as a centre foward?
Cech
Bellerin-Mustaphi-Kos-Monr
Xhaka-Coq
Alexis-Iwobi-Ox
Lucas
Cech
Bellerin,Mustafi,Koscielny,Monreal (if Gibbs isn’t fit)
Xhaka,Coquelin
Lucas,Ozil,Iwobi
Alexis
if Ozil isn’t fit, Iwobi in #10 n Ox on the left.
Why did Wenger play Lucas a left footer on the right and Sanchez a right footer on the left? To me, that’s just setting up your players for failure :/
Well twig it was TO CUT INWARDS! but you already knew that didn’t you;!?
It’s to allow each of them cut in and shoot the ball or else they would be only left with ONLY the option of crossing in all the time which makes the game very predictable for our opponent.
Agree – but Perez is SO one-footed I didn’t work. But was worth the experiment
umm.. because of modern football, inside forwards and the fact that our fullbacks were so far advanced they were practically wingers?
My line up for today :
Chech
Bellerin Gabriel Koscienly Monreal
Xhaka Coquelin
Chamberlain Iwobi Sanchez
Giroud
Bench : Ospina, Mostafi, Ramsey, Perez, Walcott, Adelaide, Maitland Niles.