For the second time in as many rounds, the Gunners close out the FA Cup weekend as the Monday night fixture. This time they travel south to face a struggling Bournemouth side who's priorities likely lie outside of a cup run.
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal head into this one with a few key absentees. David Luiz joins captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the suspended list whilst left full backs Sead Kolasinac and Kieran Tierney remain out through injury. Winger Reiss Nelson is also injured whilst long term absentee Calum Chambers is out for the season (and beyond). With important league games coming thick and fast, it's likely we will see some form of rotation especially in midfield where both Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira have played of minutes lately.
In defence, Rob Holding is the only definite in central areas right now as Sokratis is being assessed after illness and Mustafi is still all over the place. The German has steadied the ship a little of late but due to Sokratis having only been ill, its likely he'll make the cut anyway. Hector Bellerin could keep his place at right back with Ainsley Maitland-Niles coming back in a left back, giving Bukayo Saka a chance to play in his more natural position further forward. Gabriel Martinelli's great recent form should mean a place on the bench tonight with a view to be starting in the league. He's been that good he should be ousting Lacazette in the starting XI once Aubameyang returns. Upfront, pressure has been mounting on number nine Alex Lacazette who's struggling for goals. His Head Coach has backed him of late, potentially giving him a little more breathing room but really the goals need to return. The Frenchman is a dangerous forward but without the goals he's just more skilled Ashley Barnes who'll bring link up and hard work all day long. But you can get both from someone else on far less money. His job is to find the net and regularly.
Defensive wanna-be goalkeeper Steve Cook returns from suspension for the Cherries after his moment of handball madness recently whilst Eddie Howe has revealed one or two unnamed players are struggling with knocks and injuries. Long term injury casualties include David Brooks who's yet to play this season, left back Charlie Daniels and fellow defender Chris Mepham. Summer signing Lloyd Kelly has returned to the bench of late and could get a start for only his second appearance as a Cherry. Josh King has been troubled with a hamstring problem of late and whilst there's been no official word on his fitness, it's likely he'll sit this one out anyway. Dangerman Callum Wilson has looked better of late whilst wide men Harry Wilson and Ryan Fraser are Bournemouth's biggest creative threats.
The omens look good for Arteta's side as they have won eight of the last eleven meetings against Bournemouth in all competitions but whilst this is the first FA Cup meeting between the two sides, the Cherries have only reached the fifth round on four previous occasions in their 121-year history. Arsenal on the other hand have a much better record being the most successful club in FA Cup history.
Expected line up:
GK: Emi Martinez
RB: Hector Bellerin
CB: Rob Holding
CB: Sokratis
LB: Ainsley Maitland-Niles
CM: Dani Ceballos
CM: Matteo Guendouzi
CAM: Mesut Ozil
RW: Nicolas Pepe
ST: Alex Lacazette
LW: Bukayo Saka
Prediction: 3-1 to the Gunners
Comments
Post a Comment