Bournemouth vs Arsenal: Gunners Take Aim at Cherries as Arteta Seeks to Maintain 100% Record

The new Premier League season is already three gameweeks old, and Arsenal are looking good so far

• Mikel Arteta’s side has won their opening two games, and they will be looking for a third win on the bounce when they visit Bournemouth
• The newly promoted Cherries have a win and defeat in their opening two games

Arsenal are looking to make it three wins from three when they visit Bournemouth at the Vitality stadium on Saturday, August 20.

Having started the season with victories against Crystal Palace and Leicester City, Arsenal have the momentum and are heavy favourites for this one.

For Bournemouth, they kicked off their campaign in English top flight with a win over Aston Villa, but heavily lost to Manchester City.

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Scott Parker’s side faces a tricky next three games in the league, as they still have to face the likes of Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers,

Head to head

Arsenal, who have been frightening since preseason, have only lost once to Bournemouth in the two sides’ past 10 Premier League games.

But Bournemouth are unbeaten at home in their past 11 matches.

Mikel Arteta’s first game as Arsenal boss was actually against Bournemouth in 2019, and the contest ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

Team news, Bournemouth

David Brooks remains sidelined with injury, while summer signings Joe Rothwell and Ryan Fredericks also remain absent as they battle for fitness.

The biggest positive for Scott Parker’s side is the return of Jordan Zemura, who is back training after recovering from COVID-19.

Because he is facing Arsenal, Scott Parker could be tempted to tweak his squad to contain the Gunners.

Here is how the Cherries could line up:

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Travers; Lerma, Mepham, Kelly; Smith, Cook, Billing, Zemura; Tavernier, Christie; Moore

Team news, Arsenal

Arteta recently notified the press that he had a full-strength squad to choose from ahead of the game.

The only exception is Reiss Nelson, who is battling with a quad injury,

Many of the players who struggled with injury have recovered, with Fabio Vieira in particular arousing interest from fans.

He got his first minutes for the Under-21s, and Arteta hinted he could be included in the matchday squad.

Here is how the Gunners could line up against Bournemouth:

Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Thomas, Xhaka; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Jesus

Klopp slams Agbonhalor

Elsewhere, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp came to a passionate defence of Manchester United and its manager Eri Ten Hag, slamming ex Aston Villa star Gabby Agbonhalhor in the process.

Agbonlahor called on the sacking of Ten Hag after United lost 4-0 to Brentford

Klopp, whose Liverpool side face United in their next game, refused to pile more pressure on Ten Hag, instead choosing to slam Agbonlahor in his pre match presser.