MY ACCOUNT
Arsenal are firmly on track and go in search of a third consecutive Premier League win when they face newly-promoted Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
Like a proud teacher, Mikel Arteta has seen the proverbial light bulb come on in his players’ eyes to make the Gunners look more like the finished product the Spaniard intended when he first took charge.
Arsenal’s movement and attacking verve in a 4-2 home victory over Leicester last weekend was reminiscent of their peak Arsene Wenger years, and they really should have won by a more significant margin.
Bournemouth’s best hope for a result could be to put bodies behind the ball and await set-piece opportunities, but even there, they might struggle to test a well-drilled Gunners rearguard.
Team news
Argentinian centre-back Marcos Senesi is set to slot into the Cherries’ line-up after coming off the bench to make his debut late in their 4-0 mauling by Manchester City last weekend.
His inclusion in a back three would allow Jefferson Lerma to return to his usual midfield role, probably at the expense of Lewis Cook.
Dominic Solanke is being assessed for an ankle injury that prevented him from featuring at Etihad Stadium, but summer signings Joe Rothwell (thigh) and Ryan Fredericks (match fitness) are not yet ready to feature.
Jordan Zemura is available for selection after recovering from coronavirus.
With no new injury problems and no midweek game either side of this match, Arteta is unlikely to feel any need to change the team that destroyed Leicester at Emirates Stadium.
Fabio Vieira could make his senior Arsenal debut after featuring for the Under-21s in midweek.
Cedric Soares and Emile Smith Rowe also came through Wednesday’s U-21s game with Swansea City unscathed and are in contention to feature at some stage.
The stats
Bournemouth have taken the fewest shots from open play in the 2022-23 Premier League with only seven efforts on goal.
Both of the Cheries’ goals in the 2-0 win over Aston Villa came from dead-ball situations, but their set plays have led to only three total shots and a set-piece expected goals figure of 0.30 that puts them 15th in that category among the rest of the Premier League.
The Gunners, on the other hand, can currently boast the lowest figure for expected goals against from set plays – which follows on from their much-improved figure of only eight set-piece goals conceded in 2021-22.
And since the start of last season, no side has scored more Premier League goals from corners than Arsenal (15).
If the Gunners win, it would be the first time their opening three Premier League games ended in a victory since 2004-05 when they finished second to Chelsea.
Prediction
Bournemouth looked short on ambition and quality at the Etihad, but they won’t be the only team to look out of their depth against Pep Guardiola’s men.
Scott Parker must devise a game plan that allows his team to get up the pitch as a unit to put some sustained attacks together – particularly when they are at home.
Arsenal passed their first away test of the season at Crystal Palace with flying colours and, with the confidence of last week’s win and a settled atmosphere at the club, can make it a third victory in a row on Saturday.
The Gunners have enough creativity, firepower and defensive toughness to record another comfortable win by a margin of at least two goals.
