Arteta Eyes Major Squad Shake-Up as Arsenal Face Bournemouth Test
Following the conclusion of the January 2025 transfer window, Mikel Arteta declared that Arsenal possessed "one of the most depleted squads in the division." The reality appears quite different a year later.
With the wave of forward injuries beginning to recede, Arteta now faces genuine selection dilemmas. The determined Arsenal manager has maintained a consistent attacking lineup throughout the holiday fixtures but may be tempted to rotate for Saturday's encounter against a Bournemouth side that hasn't secured victory since Halloween.
Instead of sweeping alterations, which has never characterized his Premier League approach, Arteta is more inclined to provide several players at risk of fatigue some essential rest ahead of upcoming fixtures against Liverpool, Chelsea and Inter this month.
Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs. Bournemouth (4-3-3)
GK: David Raya—The ex-Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper secured his opportunity due to the remarkable size of his hands when he was just 15 years old. Those substantial mitts have proven invaluable to Arsenal thus far.
RB: Ben White—Despises defeat in any situation. "My wife and I enjoy numerous games at home and I refuse to let her win," the devoted spouse once revealed to The Guardian.
CB: William Saliba—It was during a visit to Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium that the legend of Saliba emerged. In his third Premier League outing in 2022, the French defender netted his maiden goal for the club, igniting a chant of his name to Tequila by The Champs that continued throughout the match and most of the following three-and-a-half years.
CB: Gabriel—Restored to the lineup, finding the net and getting under opponents' skin.
LB: Piero Hincapié—Arteta praises the tenacious defender as his "warrior" but there's additional craft to Hincapié's play—particularly evident from his role in an Ecuadorian commercial as a South American James Bond.
CM: Martin Ødegaard—The genuine Martin Ødegaard has finally emerged. Arsenal's energetic captain has contributed directly to more Premier League goals in his recent two matches (two) than in the preceding 11 combined (one).
CM: Martín Zubimendi—What connects Arteta, Andoni Iraola and Zubimendi? They all represented the same successful Basque youth club, Antiguoko Kirol Elkartea.
CM: Eberechi Eze—The last nine Premier League strikes Eze has netted have all occurred within the M25. His most recent top-flight goal outside London came in April, when he remained a Crystal Palace player.
RW: Noni Madueke—It seems like a glitch in reality that Madueke continues to await his inaugural Premier League goal or assist for Arsenal. Due to his impressive displays domestically and in Europe, this narrative hasn't gained momentum.
ST: Viktor Gyökeres—"I believe I perform better when I don't overthink it," Gyökeres reflected aloud. Following that reasoning, he's been contemplating more than Pep Guardiola this campaign.
LW: Gabriel Martinelli—João Carlos, Martinelli's father, has been orchestrating his son's career for some time. "He has been preparing for this since age three," the involved parent previously acknowledged. "I get shivers just considering it." It's certainly an unsettling notion.
