Arsenal will look to put their November demons aside and win their first match of the month when they welcome Bournemouth to the Emirates on Sunday. True to their reputation, Arsenal have failed to win a single match in November and although they are currently in the familiar position of 4th, Wenger would want to be higher up the table, which their early-season form pointed at. Their Champions League progress was guaranteed with 2 matches to go and the Gunners will want to utilise this advantage and focus on the League with the busy Christmas period on the horizon.
They will be facing a team with a similar philosophy in Bournemouth and the mutual admiration was apparent as Wenger egged Wilshere to join Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth where he felt Wilshere could further his footballing education and also get minutes under his belt. The Cherries are in the 10th place and will go into the match looking to salvage a draw.
MANAGER SPEAK
“I believe we have to find our game back. We didn’t lose but if you do not create, that will not last.
“It’s important that we find our simplicity, speed and pacy combinations back.
“We missed that fluency, and that security in our decision-making that made us dangerous in the final third a little bit. That is what is at stake for us.”
“He will be a big miss for us. I feel Jack has got better each week.
“When I look back at the last game against Stoke, he was excellent for us and was the key link between midfield and attack.
“Also his defensive displays for me have been superb and are undervalued, how good he is without the ball, how clever he is with the positions he takes up to protect our midfield.”
TEAM NEWS
ARSENAL
Oliver Giroud will hope to start his first league game of the season after scoring in Arsenal’s last two matches.
Santi Cazorla and Hector Bellerin remain sidelined, while the game comes too soon for Lucas Perez, who is back in training after an ankle problem.
BOURNEMOUTH
Bournemouth’s Artur Boruc and Andrew Surman are doubts with respective back and hamstring problems, while Arsenal loanee Jack Wilshere is ineligible.
Adam Smith is back after a ban and Jordon Ibe returns following an illness.
PREDICTED LINE-UPS
ARSENAL
Petr Cech; Jenkinson, Koscielny, Mustafi, Monreal; Ramsey, Coquelin; Sanchez, Ozil, Walcott; Giroud
BOURNEMOUTH
Federici; Daniels, Cook, Francis, Smith; Arter, Gosling; Pugh, King, Stanislas; Wilson
BETTING ODDS
ARSENAL- 2/5
DRAW- 4/1
BOURNEMOUTH- 8/1
