Official Arsenal XI and preview for Bournemouth at home

Arsene Wenger has made four changes to the Arsenal starting line up that lost at Southampton two days ago and you can hardly blame him after the lacklustre effort we saw from the Gunners at St. Mary’s. The only real surprise for me is that our German centre back Per Mertesacker keeps his place after a shocking show against the Saints, while Nacho Monreal who was one of our best players is dropped.

So in comes Kieran Gibbs for the Spaniard and I have to assume that is to do with fitness levels and injury concerns as the Spaniard is on the bench. The same must be true of Laurent Koscielny as he makes way for Gabriel in the centre of defence.

The other two players to drop out of the side are Mathieu Flamini and Joel Campbell, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain coming in and Calum Chambers taking his place in the middle with Aaron Ramsey. Flamini has not even made the bench so I hope he has not picked up a knock and of course we hope that the versatile youngster is up to the job.

Cech
Bellerin, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Gibbs
Ramsey, Chambers
Chamberlain, Ozil, Walcott
Giroud

Subs: Ospina, Debuchy, Koscielny, Monreal, Campbell, Iwobi, Reine-Adelaide

More important than the line up though is the effort and application which has to be a hell of a lot better than Boxing Day. Will it be Gooners?

Tags Chamberlain Chambers Gabriel Gibbs

67 Comments

    1. Friggin Lampost again…got no pace, movements and cant create a goal a goal of nothing unless you spoon fed him!
      Amount of chances our superd midfield creates should be scoring double the amount !

  1. Err Bob I think it’s called rotation. It’s Bournmouth and I know we can loose to anyone but I think the boss knows best and is doing something everyone has been asking for.

  2. Looks like Cech is going to be busy!
    This game has got Doom and gloom written all over it!! ?

    But don’t worry folks! Wenger reckons our squad is stronger enough to win the premier league.

    What an ass…. hole!

  3. Honestly nervous even if it’s a home game. A must win now Spurs are a point behind us in third and Stoke are looking like real giant killers.

  4. Still should be good enough for a win

    Let’s hope OX and Gibbs play their best

    If OX can play at the level we expected of him this attack could look tasty. I consider Walcott and OX to be natural wingers and Giroud natural CF. Them. With Ozil in center looks like a solid attack

    I’m being optimistic. But I expect a win today
    We MUST win

  5. Just like last year, for some reason Koscielny can’t play twice in three days but Mertesacker can? I dont beleive that.

    Ox and Chambers better turn up this evening. They’re lucky they are being allowed a lot of time at this club, especially Ox, he has had a lot of seasons at this club.

  6. OX and Mert are not very consistent. The guys look shaky and might just be another upset. Hope they prove me wrong.

  7. Bournemouth look better at moment.

    2-0 Bournemouth

    Wenger out, take ox, Gibbs, debuchy, Jack, mert, Arteta with you

  8. Lol these useless players are going to throw away another chance to go top.

    Spuds 1 point dehind us, this might be their year if they don’t suffer injuries like us.

    People will hate the truth, but it is what it is. Spuds title challangers.

  9. If our forwards would be as lethal as ones for the big clubs such as Barca, Bayern etc. Özil would have 30 assists!

    1. We don’t have much choice LOL. Campbell but he played already 2 days ago. The reason he isn’t starting I would imagine is because of his fitness.

    2. Yeah, bring Campbell on. Bournemouth will have to come out and OG doesn’t suite that style of play.

      But the problem they have with corners it a matter of time before he scores

  10. This is more painful than standing in front of a fat chick in the buffet que and they bring fresh hot wings out………

  11. Not able to watch the match and just using stats from cash out on sky sports, looks like we are dominating is that the case? Ozil again 16 now for the season and good to read Gabriel scoring ?

    1. Well in short:

      Mert 3 misplaced passes in the first 10 minutes.

      7 corners, 6 of them found our player first (1 goal, 1 post).

      Chambers has been SOLID.

      Özil created 3 chances for Walcott, 1 for Giroud. They should’ve done better with finishing.

      1. Typical. Ozil should have already broke King Henrys record of 20assists! Good man cheers, nice break down – Mert being the same ol same ol and Chambers playing good, he might just take his chance like Coquelin did?

  12. Wenger needs to be dynanmic!!why not use Gabriely as our DM while Le Coquelin injured?the guy tackles,fast,good in air!!he colud turn our own Kondogbia…..

  13. Giroud not playing today. We need to get 1 or 2 more and take Ramsey off, not feeling settled after that yellow.

  14. WENGER needs to be dynamic!!why not use Gabriely as our DM while Le Coquelin injured?the guy tackles,fast,good in air!!he colud turn our own Kondogbia…..

  15. if we stay in striking distance of the top of the table, as we get back our core players for the stretch run, we should win this league, we cant forget we are without our co- best player in Alexi and our solid DM in Le Coq, this year feels better,

  16. Walcott doing well in defence. We need another goal to avoid being shocked by a Martinez type of goal.

  17. Walcott has improved enormously defensively.

    Always a threat going forward always, he just needs ti improve finishing, with chances created for him tjis game he could easily of had a hatrick.

    No wonder Ronaldo was so upset to see Ozil leave

    1. And Walcott needs to look up. Shooting isn’t always the best option (see Ramsey’s position when Theo shot wide that chance)

    1. yeah he looks knackered, but I’m not sure if its cause walcott’s also on the pitch, when walcotts on the bench giroud presses well and actually tries to influence the game

  18. nice shift Ox, pleased with all but one today, if you dont have sreaming pace as a CF, you better have some mads skills and energy, not seeing it…

  19. Game and match.

    Ozil Ozil Ozil

    Fkin MOTM how he did not beat Henry’s record this match I do not know.

    Ozil 9.5 – 10

    Keeps this up and thosr Pundits who laughed at him for wanting to win ballondor will eat their words.

    Watch out Messi, Ozill gunning for you

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