Official Arsenal team to face Bournemouth – Nketiah and Martinelli start

Arsenal team named for FA Cup clash at the Vitality Stadium this evening.

Mikel Arteta is giving Arsenal every chance of progressing in this seasonโ€™s FA Cup. As expected, he has gone with an attacking line up to face off against the Cherries.

The Gunners are the most prolific winners of the world-famous trophy and manager Mikel Arteta is an avowed fan of the tournament.

This is far from an easy match for Arsenal and a very tough game is expected. The Cherries need a distraction from the relegation battles and a win over Arsenal would be huge for their morale.

Anyway, what do you think of the team? Do you agree with Artetaโ€™s selection? Let us know your reaction in the comments below.

Links to streams will be put in the comments where to watch the game live and free so keep checking in.

Also, if you go to Arsenal.com you will be able to get live commentary text and Arsenal radio.

JustArsenal match preview here
JustArsenal predicted line up here (for comparison)

54 Comments

  1. Excited to see Nketiah start. But I hope Willock wouldn’t play as no 10, because he didn’t do well in that position previously

    Hopefully Arsenal would use 4-3-3 with Guendouzi as the lone CDM and Xhaka/ Willock as the mezzalas

    1. Its a 433,i am just surprised why ceballos is not used as a half winger.
      He can be used as a substitue though

      1. I think Arteta doesn’t want to develop a loanee who would most likely not be at the Emirates next season, hence Willock starts

        1. De Bruyne and Silva played that role very well at Man City last season, since they can use their stronger foot to cross and they use the wide forwards as decoys:

          …………. Fernandinho
          …… De Bruyne …….. Silva
          Mahrez …………………. Sterling
          ………….. Aguero

          Ceballos and the prime version of Ozil might be able to be great crossers as well in 4-3-3, but they need to click well with the wide players

          1. I thought they were perhaps referring to inside forwards as they were in my day, or wing halves as you mentioned.
            Your comment about inverted or right way up wingers is pure class๐Ÿคฃ

    2. Looking foward to seeing Nketiah and Martinelli together. Mustafi???? A real chance for Willock to make a mark. Happy for Eddie Nketiah. Really young team. C’mon you guys.

  2. I have not seen one arsenal game where a xhaka guendhuzi combo has been anything but shambolic with a mustafi sokrates cimbo not far behind so the assumption that this will be easy is really dumb … a lot of pressure on youngsters so ๐Ÿคž

  3. He’s rotating, that sokra Mustafi pair & holding benched scary again. Unless Xhaka sits in front CBs, we on a 2 midfields to defend. In that case; we draw or lose again! if 2 midfields focus on defense; no possible transition forward! Same BS, different day!

  4. What does Willock bring/give to this team? He has no stamina, can’t score, can’t create yet he’s the the first to come in for Ozil. How Arteta keeps picking him ahead of Ceballos is beyond me. Him and Nelson should spent 2 – 3 more years with the U23 or on loan.

  5. What did Ceballos do to Arteta? Why is Arteta freezing him out like this? They should simply terminate the loan deal if they aren’t gonna play him. This is total bs

    1. Maybe Ceballos hasn’t fully recovered yet?

      And Ceballos would most likely have to go back to Bernabeu next season. Arteta needs to improve the young players, because they will stay longer

    2. Maybe the fact that he has told MA, reportedly of course, that he wants to return to Spain at the end of the season.

      From what MA has said, anyone who isn’t on board with his vision are out of the picture.

  6. Exciting front line but not impressed by midfield. Hopefully Mustafi puts his “best foot” forwrd ๐Ÿ˜

  7. Please, avoid trashing opposite team before result!

    They do fight for their lives in EPL, relegation battle.

    We just 2 games away from 19th spot my friend; just don’t realize we are as then and many teams. We equal points with 14th spot! Helloooo!

    I stated in a comment; our biggest danger is to focus & believe in top4, when we should realize & be in survival mode.

    Teams above as Everton Southampton we’re in that zone few weeks back. Behind us, it is fight for survival as well.

    That’s attitude and be conscious of it, helped them turning things around or they would be relax as we are and be still in bottom!

  8. You would always want to play players who are ready to give you 100%. Cabellos will play in the second half when the game is won or if we need to rest Xhaka.
    He is not capable of giving 100% as he wants to return to Madrid in the next few days so he can get loaned to another spanish club.

  9. With Mustafi and Socratis in tandem Bournemouth must have a chance.As for the adverse comments concerning Willock,to suggest he lacks stamina makes me wonder if you have seen him play.He is far from the finished article but one thing he does possess is stamina.

    1. Guendouzi was good actually
      And mustafi is making some superb long balls
      The standout player was….SAKAโค๐Ÿ‘Œ

    2. QD I’m not watching the game…I’ll have to watch the highlights later but I’ve been reading comments on FB regarding Guendouxi being MOTM so far, bossing the midfield and being everywhere??
      I dont know though

    3. l think the game is being played around him as the plan i think hes just there to win scaps when it drops in cm,
      Which hes not doing to bad in,

    4. @ Quantic dream Guendouzi has been one of the best players for arsenal in this match . The people struggling are pepe and xhaka . Willock is alright so far. Nketiah always gives you the work rate. There is a vibe to pepe in this match I don’t understand it.

  10. That’s it, a DM infront of defense, Xhaka plays LB. Saka attacking midfield as Willock playing higher & forward on other flank, adding 3 attacking players makes it hard to defend when 5 players in the box.

    We in control, not all game defending which happens when we have 2 midfield defending all game. Balanced now and more secured. We gonna score few more and should clean sheet

    It is a 4123! 5 defenaive players & 5 focused attacking!

    Arteta got that Xhaka can defend, better off have him play LB, and Saka infront of him, no the opposite!

    I’m very pleased with formation, we have players, must put them in right formation. Once a player covers defense, it gives many options all over pitch and for tac tics ..

  11. Willock playing well actually after all the negative comments before kick off.
    Mustafi also having a good game but agree Guendouzi is struggling.

  12. Willock was surprising with his physicality and work rate. Saka was excellent again as an attacking LB with one goal and one assist

    Whereas Pepe couldn’t use his right leg to go to the byline, as usual. Mustafi and Guendouzi were controlling the game

    Bournemouth were totally shocking though, as if they were a League One team. If Eddie Howe instructed his boys to give Arsenal that much space, he has to be fired tomorrow

    1. why you keep saying pepe couldn’t use his right to go to the byline??

      that’s like saying arjen robben couldn’t use his right to go to the byline.. or ronaldhino couldn’t use his left to go to they byline…

      that’s NOT their game and they just don’t need to do it
      their game is cutting inside and so is the attacking approach

  13. Good performance despite lack of midfield … Guendhuzi worked hard but no support from xhaka who was poor as per usual but have to say mustafi had a very decent half for a change … Saka and martinelli excellent combo on the left

  14. Playing well except from the very occasional silly pass. I hope we raise the tempo more in the second half and finish them off. Hunger in football is a good thing.

  15. I actually like the understanding between martinelli and saka they buzzing that left wing.
    Guendozi for me has been superb,mustaphi surprisingly doing well but I will keep my fingers crossed.

  16. He switched Xhaka to midfield and Saka LB.

    We do not look same at all, 2 midfields defending as our game turned

    Back to wrong formation!

  17. Holding still passing to the opposition and losing his man for the goal.
    Despite Mustafi’s obvious flaws, he is still better than Rob Holding.

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