Troubled Arsenal will be looking for some redemption after a humiliating defeat at the hands of Liverpool. We’re just three games into the premier league season, and the pressure is on Arsenal and Arsene Wenger. Thanks to a below par performance, the Gunners are languishing at 16th place in the league table.
Bournemouth on the other hand, haven’t won a game so far this season. Although they managed a brave performance against Manchester City, they still ended up on the losing side thanks to Raheem Sterling’s 97th-minute winner.
Arsenal Stats: Arsenal have earned just 3 points so far, and they have already conceded eight goals this season. They started with a 4-3 home win over Leicester before losing back to back away fixtures at Stoke 1-0 and Liverpool 4-0. It’s worth noting that Arsenal have won both of their last two Premier League home games against Bournemouth by a two-goal margin.
Bournemouth Stats: Bournemouth have lost all 3 of their league games. They started with defeats, 1-0 at West Brom and 2-0 at home to Stoke before an injury time Manchester City goal saw them beaten 2-1 in another home fixture. They haven’t fared well against Arsenal since their return to the premier league and have failed to win any game against the Gunners, losing three and drawing just once in four meetings.
Arsene Wenger has his work cut as he tries to unite his divided dressing room and can’t afford to drop points in front of their own fans.
The Gunners’ boss is expected to make changes to his team after the departure of Oxlade Chamberlain who started all of Arsenal’s games before switching to Liverpool, and youngster Reiss Nelson is being tipped to earn a place in the starting lineup. Alexandre Lacazette will be expected to start too after his unexpected drop to the bench against Liverpool.
For Bournemouth, the odds are heavily stacked against them, but Eddie Howe’s team should in no way be seen as pushovers as they can look back to the narrow loss to Man City with some positivity. With the experienced Jermain Defoe leading the attack, they could well cause an unexpected upset for Arsenal.
Arsenal Possible Lineup (3-4-3) Cech – Monreal, Koscielny, Holding – Kolasinac, Ramsey, Xhaka, Bellerin – Ozil, Sanchez –Lacazette.
Bournemouth Possible Lineup (4-4-2) Begovic – Cook, Mings, Daniels, Smith – Pugh, Arter, Surman, Fraser – King, Defoe.