The Gunners entertain Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday.
Arsenal will look for their first Premier League win in three games on Sunday, as AFC Bournemouth make the trip from the south coast to the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners, having won seven of their first ten league games have become somewhat unstuck in recent weeks, having drawn their last three outings in all competitions.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
Since the turn of the month, November has once again proved to be a mental block for Arsene Wenger’s side – despite keeping their unbeaten run in tact following their 3-4 loss to Liverpool in the league curtain-raiser back in August.
With an EFL Cup quarter-final clash with Southampton to come in midweek, Arsenal will look to end the month on a high.
Bournemouth’s fortunes continue to fluctuate this term. Eddie Howe’s men have not won or lost back-to-back games this season and inflicted Stoke City’s first league defeat since September last weekend, having lost 1-2 to bottom of the table Sunderland seven days before.
Bournemouth’s Nathan Ake scores their first goal
The Cherries 1-0 win at The Bet365 Stadium last Saturday was their first away maximum haul of the campaign, having previously taken just two points from five league games on the road.
With Sunday’s visitors oft-travel shy, their task will not be helped by the notion that Bournemouth have lost all three of the two sides previous meetings, having also failed to score.
Last season, Howe’s men lost 2-0 both home and away with Mesut Özil scoring on both occasions.
Arsene Wenger could name Olivier Giroud up front, with Alexis Sanchez dropping to the left for the out of form Alex Iwobi.
The Gunners are again without Santi Cazorla who continues to struggle with an achilles problem. Right-back Hector Bellerin will return to light training next week.
Forward Lucas Perez is still absent but could feature versus The Saints in midweek.
Elsewhere, the trio of Chuba Akpom, Danny Welbeck and Per Mertesacker are all out until the new year.
This is how Arsenal could line up:
Eddie Howe is able to recall full-back Adam Smith from suspension, but Jack Wilshere is ineligible.
Winger Jordon Ibe should return from illness alongside goalkeeper Artur Boruc, but midfielder Andrew Surman will have a late fitness test on a hamstring injury.
Lewis Cook is out until the end of January.
Here is how The Cherries could line up:
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