Arsenal predicted line-up vs. Bournemouth: £105m midfielder returns amid seven changes and Saka question

Arsenal will be looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign when they come up against Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon. The Gunners are one of four top flight sides who are yet to lose a league match this season, although they did have to settle for a draw in last Sunday’s North London derby against Tottenham.

The Gunners led twice in that match, but were pegged back on both occasions by a Son Heung-min brace. Mikel Arteta’s men now find themselves fifth in the table, four points adrift of leaders Manchester City.

For their part, Bournemouth are yet to win a match this term, and are currently one spot above the relegation zone after drawing three of their opening six outings. The Cherries did, however, record a 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over Stoke City in mid-week.

Arsenal Team News

Arsenal will have a number of injury concerns to contend with this weekend, with none likely to worry more than the potential absence of Bukayo Saka. The winger picked up a knock to his foot in the late stages of last week’s clash with Spurs, and his manager has admitted that there is a ‘possibility’ that he will not be fit enough to start against Bournemouth.

In more positive news, Declan Rice, who was forced to withdraw at half time last Sunday, could feature despite having missed out on the Carabao Cup win over Brentford in mid-week. It is understood that the midfielder’s back complaint is a relatively minor one, and that he will be assessed ahead of Saturday’s clash.

Elsewhere, Leandro Trossard could be back in contention having limped out of training with a lower hamstring strain recently, while Gabriel Martinelli is also nearing a return to fitness, but may be eased back into the side slowly.

Saturday’s fixture is likely to come too soon for Thomas Partey, who remains sidelined with a groin issue, while Jurrien Timber will be out of action for the foreseeable future after sustaining a nasty knee injury on the opening weekend.

Full Predicted Arsenal XI

David Raya; Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Oleksandr Zinchenko; Declan Rice, Fabio Vieira, Martin Odegaard; Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel Jesus.

Bournemouth Team News

The big concern for Bournemouth will be whether or not striker Dominic Solanke is fit to start after he limped off with an ankle injury during his side’s mid-week win over Stoke. Addressing the matter in his post-match press conference, Cherries boss Andoni Iraola said: “We will see tomorrow if the ankle is swollen or not but we have a very tight schedule so it will be tough for him to play at the weekend.”

Other absentees include Emiliano Marcondes, Alex Scott, Ryan Fredericks, Lloyd Kelly, and Chris Mepham, but Iraola could hand a first start to summer signing Tyler Adams who came off the bench on Wednesday night to make his debut for the Cherries.

Full Bournemouth Predicted XI

Neto; Max Aarons, Illia Zabarnyi, Marcos Senesi, Miloz Kerkez; Tyler Adams, Philip Billing; Marcus Tavernier, Ryan Christie, Dango Ouattara; Kieffer Moore.