Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth – English Premier League – Preview

Posted on December 28, 2015 by Sreya

Arsenal host AFC Bournemouth at the Emirates on 28th December, Monday as the Gunners have yet another opportunity to move to the top of the English Premier League standings, with Leicester City not playing until Tuesday.

Arsenal, who are on second position with thirty six points after eighteen games, have to put up a much improved showing than their performance against Southampton in the 4-0 loss yesterday. AFC Bournemouth, one of the promoted sides this season, have picked up twelve points in their last six, all the while remaining undefeated, to climb to the fourteenth position with twenty points.

Team News

Arsene Wenger is still without Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky, Danny Welbeck, Francis Coquelin, Mikel Arteta, Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla. Although the Gunners boss would like to have more options at his disposal, Arsenal have to remain content with their first-choice eleven from the previous fixture.

Bournemouth have their own injury concerns with Tyrone Mings, Callum Wilson, Max Gredel and Tommy Elphick already ruled out. While Christian Atsu is struggling with match fitness, Joshua King and Lee Tomlin have been listed as doubts for the game.

Arsenal Possible Starting Lineup: Petr Cech, Hector Bellerin, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal, Mathieu Flamini, Aaron Ramsey, Joel Campbell, Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud.

AFC Bournemouth Possible Starting Lineup: Artur Boruc, Adam Smith, Simon Francis, Steve Cook, Charlie Daniels, Adrew Surman, Matt Ritchie, Harry Arter, Dan Gosling, Junior Stanislas, Joshua King.

Contributor’s Pick

Arsenal have won five of their last six English Premier League games at home, scoring at least two goals in them. According to Head-2-Head statistics, these two clubs have never played each other before. Arsenal are the favorites to win with a margin of 2-0.

“The positive thing is there is a game on Monday and we will be ready to bounce back. We had a game where nothing was really happening for us and everything was happening for them.

If you look at the number of shots they had – they had one in the first half and they scored a goal. In the second half [two of their] goals were practically the same. They had two shots and they put them in. Obviously when you play against a team which has this type of efficiency in front of goal then it is difficult to win games.

Our performance was not as we wanted but that’s football – especially in the Premier League. When you have a day like that and you don’t find your way it is very difficult to win.”

– Petr Cech, Arsenal.