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Arsenal return to action after the international break against Bournemouth. Here are five players needed to ensure a return to form.
It feels weird to starting talking about a “return to form” when Arsenal haven’t lost in 16 straight matches, but the fact of the matter is that the club limped into the international break after a thoroughly disappointing 1-1 draw that was only a draw because Mkhitaryan fluffed a cross into the back corner to level the match.
Not a good feel after a season that has been majority positive. Despite pulling off a fantastic one point against Liverpool, both Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton should have amounted to three points as well, instead, we got two points combined.
Bournemouth is next, and this is so far from a walk in the park. Not least of all because the Gunners just haven’t clicked much lately. Mostly because the Cherries are actually putting together an impressive season, and sit just four points behind Arsenal.
As such, this is a big one. The Gunners really, really need to come into this one and walk out with three points. Obviously not as big as the Liverpool match, but certainly not far away from it.
Anyway, let’s get into the five key players to make sure that this match actually does go according to plan. We start with No. 5.
5. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
This may be the first time that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has appeared on this list because he just isn’t the kind of guy that has a lot to say about the way a match goes. Either his teammates get him involved early on and he has a good one, or he struggles to get himself into the match.
Either way, it usually isn’t up to him. He goes with the flow, good or bad.
That said, in this one, in a match where Bournemouth will likely be taking the fight to the visitors, I can see Aubameyang finding space to work with. I can see him with opportunities, and that being the case, he is going to have to be reliable – someone we can count on to take his chances.
On to No. 4.