Arsenal team news: Predicted XI vs Bournemouth with Saka, Havertz, Martinelli calls
Arsenal will have the chance to go top of the Premier League table on Saturday and pile the pressure on their title rivals. With Manchester City and Liverpool not playing until Sunday, Mikel Arteta takes his team to Bournemouth looking to continue his side’s unbeaten start to the season.
But with captain Martin Odegaard already ruled out, team selection is shaping up to be anything but simple for the Spaniard who has to assess a number of injury doubts following the international break.
Express Sport looks at a starting line-up for the trip to the Vitality Stadium, which will kick-start a crucial run of games for the Gunners.
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const loadOvpScript=()=>{let el=document.createElement('script');el.setAttribute('src','https://live.primis.tech/live/liveView.php?s=114291&vp_content=plembed3e7arguyxmsj&cbuster=%%CACHEBUSTER%%&playerApiId=v114291');document.getElementById('ovp-primis').appendChild(el)};window.top.addEventListener('primisPlayerInit',e=>{try{if(e.detail&&e.detail.playerApiId==="v114291"){if(window.document.getElementsByClassName('jwplayer')[0]){e.detail.float('disable')}}}catch(e){}});window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',()=>{setTimeout(()=>{if(typeof flagTcfLoaded!=='undefined'&&flagTcfLoaded===!0){loadOvpScript();ExpressApp.Log('[Load] OVP flagTcfLoaded',new Date())}else{document.addEventListener("tcfLoaded",()=>{loadOvpScript();ExpressApp.Log('[Load] OVP tcfLoaded',new Date())})}},1500)})One selection that won’t cause Arteta any headaches is picking David Raya to continue in goal. There will be a change over the back-up option though, with 16-year-old Jack Porter likely to be on the bench given Neto is ineligible to face his parent club.
Defence: Calafiori, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber
William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes will undoubtedly continue their formidable partnership in central defence, but Arsenal have problems at full-back. Takehiro Tomiyasu is out with a knee injury and on Friday, Arteta admitted that Kieran Tierney (hamstring), Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf) and Ben White (groin) faced a race against time to be fit.
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Jurrien Timber was forced off against PSG in his last outing and missed the win over Southampton and the international break with the Netherlands. However, the latter development appeared a precautionary measure, and out of the contenders, the Dutchman seems in the best shape to flank the defence with Riccardo Calafiori.
Midfield: Partey, Rice, Merino
After a prolonged wait for his first start due to a shoulder injury, it seems set to be the weekend where Arteta can finally unleash summer signing Mikel Merino from the start, although Jorginho will also be in the frame. Declan Rice is a certainty, while Thomas Partey has been cleared to play despite withdrawing from the Ghana squad with an undisclosed ‘medical issue’.
Kai Havertz has been deployed in midfield this season, but is likely to be pushed further forward due to circumstances. Raheem Sterling was given a rare chance to start against Southampton, but failed to impress and it will be a cameo role at best for the ex-England international.
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Attack: Saka, Havertz, Trossard
This is a selection that Arteta must handle with care. Havertz missed Germany’s two recent games with a knee injury, while Bukayo Saka wasn’t considered fit for selection for England’s clash in Finland last Sunday. Manager Lee Carsley allayed fears though by labelling the decision a ‘precaution’, while Arteta has declared himself very ‘hopeful’ that the former Chelsea man will get the all clear.
If so, Havertz is set to be deployed as a striker with Gabriel Martinelli sent for an MRI scan on his calf by the Brazilian Football Confederation this week. Arteta has admitted the forward appears a ‘risk’, and given the form of Leandro Trossard, it’s almost inconceivable he’ll feature given the fixture schedule that follows.
Arsenal team news: Predicted XI vs Bournemouth with Saka, Havertz, Martinelli calls
Arsenal team news: Predicted XI vs Bournemouth with Saka, Havertz, Martinelli calls
Arsenal team news: Predicted XI vs Bournemouth with Saka, Havertz, Martinelli calls
Arsenal team news: Predicted XI vs Bournemouth with Saka, Havertz, Martinelli calls
Arsenal team news: Predicted XI vs Bournemouth with Saka, Havertz, Martinelli calls
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