Arsenal vs. Bournemouth: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
An Arsenal side still reeling from their 4-0 hammering at Southampton host an in-form Bournemouth in this intriguing Premier League encounter.
Arsenal’s last home game, a morale-boosting 2-1 win over title rivals Manchester City, seems like an age ago now. After that match, the Gunners were widely heralded as potential champions.
However, their credentials took a serious blow with their disastrous performance at St. Mary’s Stadium.
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Arsene Wenger must hope his team can bounce back immediately. With the squad stretched to breaking point by injuries, it won’t be easy.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, are enjoying a fantastic Christmas. After an unbeaten run that’s lasted for six games, they might even feel a little disappointed they didn’t win their Boxing Day clash with Crystal Palace. They’ll now be looking to add the scalp of Arsenal to historic wins over Chelsea and Manchester United.
Date: Monday, December 28
Time: 5:30 p.m. GMT/12:30 p.m. ET
Location: Emirates Stadium, London
Television coverage: Premier League Extra Time (U.S. only)
Streaming: NBC Live (U.S. only)
Form
Arsenal
W (3-1) vs. Sunderland
W (0-3) Olympiakos
W (0-2) vs. Aston Villa
W (2-1) vs. Manchester City
L (4-0) vs. Southampton
Bournemouth
D (3-3) vs. Everton
W (0-1) vs. Chelsea
W (2-1) vs. Manchester United
W (1-2) vs. West Brom
D (0-0) vs. Crystal Palace
There is not much precedent for this fixture: The two clubs have met just once before, in a League Cup tie in 1987 at Highbury, which Arsenal won 3-0.
However, the Gunners typically fare well against promoted teams, and it is now 21 games since they lost to a side that’s new to the Premier League.
Arsenal may be unbeaten in their last seven league matches at home, but Bournemouth haven’t lost in their six Premier League fixtures. What’s more, the Cherries have won on five of their last six visits to London. Having recently triumphed at Stamford Bridge, they will not approach the Emirates Stadium with much trepidation.
The Managers
For Arsenal, this match is all about how they respond to the setback at Southampton.
In conversation with Arsenal.com, Wenger cited a lack of sharpness in the challenge as the critical problem with their performance at St. Mary’s Stadium.
He said:
"We were beaten in the challenges too much, we were not sharp enough to play our usual game and on top of that I think we were unlucky on the decisions for the first three goals and that was too much for us.
[We were missing] the sharpness, that subconscious strength that is in the mind absolutely to win the game. You could see that we relaxed a bit after Man City and didn’t switch on enough here. They were, and that made the difference.
I think the players have a good mentality, a strong spirit and they will respond on Monday. We have to be intelligent enough to analyse what went wrong here.
"
Wenger will hope that his side are able to quickly correct their errors for the visit of Bournemouth to the Emirates Stadium.
Having faced the trio of Everton, Chelsea and Manchester United in their last five games, Eddie Howe could be forgiven for hoping for a bit of respite. However, in the Premier League, there is no let-up in the schedule. Bournemouth’s next three games see them face Arsenal, Leicester and West Ham.
Per the Press Association (h/t Eurosport), Howe insisted his side are playing well enough to flourish in this difficult period.
He said:
"Now we move into a really tough period where we know we are going to have to be even better. I think you are always looking for ways to improve but certainly I have been really pleased with our front line and how we have attacked recent games.
I think we have been scoring goals regularly, we have been creating chances so I don't think there is anything wrong with what we are delivering.
"
This will be a huge test of Howe’s side, but they've already shown they can triumph against the odds this season. In some respects, they have nothing to lose—which makes them all the more dangerous.
Team News
Arsenal
Arsenal looked second best in many of the physical battles at Southampton, and much of that could be ascribed to fatigue. Having fielded the same XI in games against Manchester City and the Saints last week, it’s certain that Wenger will look to rotate in this fixture.
Both Kieran Gibbs and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were on the bench against Southampton, and they could be in line to start in place of Nacho Monreal and one of the attacking unit.
Wenger may also look to introduce Gabriel Paulista for Per Mertesacker, after the German looked particularly out of sorts on Sunday.
His options in central midfield are extremely limited, but it’s possible that Calum Chambers will be drafted in to afford Mathieu Flamini a breather.
Possible Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Petr Cech; Hector Bellerin, Gabriel Paulista, Laurent Koscielny, Kieran Gibbs; Calum Chambers, Aaron Ramsey; Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mesut Ozil, Joel Campbell; Theo Walcott.
Bournemouth
Howe’s biggest selection dilemma will revolve around Harry Arter, who came off against Crystal Palace at half-time.
If Arter doesn’t make it, South African Tokelo Rantie is the most likely to replace him. Should Howe want to freshen up his XI, he might consider introducing Yann Kermorgant in place of Glenn Murray up top, or bringing Marc Pugh in for the energetic former West Ham man Junior Stanislas.
Lee Tomlin could be in line to make his comeback from injury, but the pace of Josh King will unfortunately be unavailable to Howe.
Possible Bournemouth XI (4-5-1): Artur Boruc; Adam Smith, Simon Francis, Steve Cook, Charlie Daniels; Matt Ritchie, Dan Gosling, Andrew Surman, Harry Arter, Junior Stanislas; Glenn Murray.
Players to Watch
Arsenal: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
If "The Ox" starts against Bournemouth, he will be a man with a point to prove. In recent weeks, he has fallen behind Costa Rican Joel Campbell in the pecking order. When he comes off the bench, he invariably looks short of both match practice and confidence.
Having been out of the side, Oxlade-Chamberlain cannot claim to be suffering from tiredness, like so many others in the Arsenal squad. This is a fantastic chance for him to stake his claim for a more regular place.
Bournemouth: Matt Ritchie
Ritchie is blessed with a wand of a left foot that could well prove to be Arsenal’s undoing. If Monreal is rested, Ritchie will find himself up against Gibbs. His tendency to cut infield from the right is sure to give Gibbs a difficult evening’s work.
Bournemouth are likely to sit back and soak up pressure, meaning they will have to be particularly efficient with any chances that come their way. Ritchie has the quality to ensure Howe’s team make the most of any opportunities they create.
James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout 2015/16. Follow him on Twitter here.
