Arsenal will hope to continue their FA Cup run this season when they face fellow Premier League side Bournemouth away at the Vitality stadium in the fourth round on Monday night.
Mikel Arteta’s men haven’t been winning games recently, but the performances have been better and the ability to grind out results has risen to some extent. The grit shown by 10 men to get a draw away at Chelsea on Tuesday night was an example of that.
They’ll need to show some of that if they want to progress into the next round of the FA Cup.
Bournemouth regained some form by beating Brighton on Tuesday, so they could come into this game in high spirits.
For Arsenal, Arteta will continue to miss the services of captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, with this being his last game of suspension.
Elsewhere, Kieran Tierney and Calum Chambers are out with injuries, while Sokratis and Reiss Nelson are doubts. David Luiz was sent off against Chelsea and will miss this game. Here’s how we think the manager might line his XI up against Bournemouth.
GK - Emiliano Martinez
Martinez has been Arsenal’s keeper in cup competitions. That should be the case when the Gunners take to the field on Monday night.
RB - Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Ainsley didn’t play against Chelsea, as Hector Bellerin came back into the team. However, we could see the former back in the XI for this game.
CB - Rob Holding
With David Luiz suspended and Sokratis a doubt, Arteta has very few choices in central defence. So, we could see Holding start alongside Shkodran Mustafi.
CB - Shkodran Mustafi
Mustafi came back well after making a horror mistake against Chelsea. He looks set for another opportunity at the back for the Gunners against Bournemouth.
LB - Bukayo Saka
Saka has done tremendously well in his unnatural position during the past few games. With other left-backs out, he may have to do a job in that position once again on Monday.
CM - Granit Xhaka
Xhaka played mostly as a centre-back against Chelsea and did extremely well. We think he could be back in his natural position in central midfield on Monday.
CM - Matteo Guendouzi
Guendouzi has been coming off the bench during the past few games. The young Frenchman could get a start against the Cherries.
RW - Nicolas Pepe
Pepe has been in good form since the arrival of Arteta. The Ivorian is in line to start and terrorise the Bournemouth back-line.
CAM - Mesut Ozil
Ozil only played 55 minutes of football against Chelsea. He looks set to start on Monday, in a bid to play a bigger part and help the team win the game.
LW - Gabriel Martinelli
Martinelli has been a sensation at the club whenever he plays. Arsenal fans are probably still thinking about his crazy run against Chelsea. He should be one of the first names on the team sheets these days.
ST - Alexandre Lacazette
Even though Lacazette has been working hard for the team and assisting where possible, Arsenal fans would love to see the Frenchman break his recent lull in front of goal.