Coming off a strong start to the season, Arsenal head down to the south coast to face AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. Find out what Last Word on Football predicts to be the Gunners’ starting lineup on August 20th, 2022.
What Can We Expect From the Arsenal Starting Lineup?
🚨 MATCHDAY!
🕔 5.30pm (UK)
🆚 Bournemouth
🏟 Vitality Stadium#BOUARS pic.twitter.com/leUyYXIZhc— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 20, 2022
How Arsenal Have Lined up Recently
The team that dismantled Leicester City at the Emirates was a strong one. Aaron Ramsdale started the match in net, protected by William Saliba and Gabriel at centre-back. Ben White impressed playing out of position at right-back, with Zinchenko rounding out the defence on the opposite flank. Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka formed a double pivot in front of the back line.
In attack, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli lined up behind centre-forward, Gabriel Jesus, who gave the Leicester defence headaches as he drifted from flank to flank.
Arsenal Injuries to Consider
Mikel Arteta’s side are currently in excellent health. The creative mastermind Fabio Vieira is close to recovering from his injury fully and could see some minutes in the clash against The Cherries. Arsenal fans will be excited to see Vieira in action, with hopes that the midfielder can pull some strings and create chances for attackers.
Reiss Nelson is the only other player missing from The Gunners. As Nelson has not played a Premier League fixture for the club in over a year, this should have little impact on Arteta’s plans for this weekend’s trip to the south coast.
If Arsenal win today, it will be the first time since the 04/05 season, that they've won their opening three games of a Premier League season ✅✅✅#BOUARS pic.twitter.com/RdE6mOlKUq
— LiveScore (@livescore) August 20, 2022
Predicted Arsenal Starting Lineup
Bournemouth are a side that has a tendency to press opponents. This means that the Gunners could have some luck when playing high and wide, with attacking players getting in behind the Cherries’ full-backs. The front line that fared so well against Leicester should be in a position to do well again here. Gabriel Jesus has given Arteta every reason to rely on him as his no.9 so far and Martin Odegaard should keep his place just behind at number 10. Flanking them once again is Bukayo Saka on the right with Gabriel Martinelli attacking Scott Parker’s choice of right-back.
The rest of the Arsenal side should remain much the same. Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka retain their positions in midfield. Ben White will likely continue out of position at right-back with Takehiro Tomiyasu lacking match sharpness following a spell on the sidelines. Kieran Tierney has featured from the bench in each of the two Gunners fixtures so far and that will likely not change here as Zinchenko holds down the left-back spot. Saliba and Gabriel retain their roles despite the former’s recent own goal, while Aaron Ramsdale maintains his place between the sticks.
Arsenal starting lineup: Aaron Ramsdale; William Saliba, Gabriel, Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko; Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka; Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus
Current Odds: Arsenal vs Bournemouth
Arsenal are clear favourites for the match at 2/5. The draw is the next most likely result at 7/2, with a Bournemouth victory a firm outsider at 7/1.
