Arsenal resume their Premier League campaign with a game against AFC Bournemouth, whose result in all probability would define the next few months at the club. Arsene Wenger has been the subject of huge criticism in the last two weeks and would seriously hope the players fight for him now.
He is expected to play his strongest side and here is the predicted lineup he might field for this tie:
Defence
Petr Cech will start under the bar by all means. The Czech international has been the only player in the squad to retain his quality between the sticks. Despite conceding eight goals in the first three games itself, Arsenal cannot really blame Cech for most of them as it was their leaky defence that was at fault.
The senior player was apparently very vociferous in the dressing room following Liverpool’s drubbing and following a good international break, would expect the players to come out refreshed for the game against AFC Bournemouth.
Arsene Wenger is expected to go with a four-man back line this time. While the three-man back line has worked wonders for the club, winning them two silverwares in a span of four months, it hasn’t really helped them be at their strongest. And the departure of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will also be a mammoth reason for Arsenal to change the set-up.
We expect Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker to start in the central defence flanked by Sead Kolasinac and Hector Bellerin. With Shkodran Mustafi’s situation at the club recovering from an uncertain perspective, Wenger might give him some time to gel in.
Midfield
The two-man midfield is expected to be Granit Xhaka and Francis Coquelin. The Swiss international is undoubtedly a great passer but will need to get his game reading abilities spot on, which happens with more games. And what he would need till then is a proper cover to give him time and space to express himself.
Francis Coquelin excels in tireless working in that midfield and getting his passing perfect. He can be a patchy version of N’Golo Kante and has helped Arsenal win games previously. With him taking care of the dirty work around Xhaka can comfortably spray his passes up front with precision.
The number 10 position will be taken by Mesut Ozil. The German playmaker has proved on international duty what he is capable of with two assists and a goal and Wenger would want him to remain that way.
Attack
The flanks should be taken by Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck. The Englishman should be preferred ahead of Theo Walcott because his creativity remains supreme. The spearheading attacker will NOT be Olivier Giroud. Wenger faced the boot for not using Alexandre Lacazette last game and he has hopefully regained his sanity.
Here is how they could line up:
