Arsenal vs Bournemouth predicted starting XI: Safe for Mesut Ozil?

Wide Attackers

Another situation where I question how much Unai Emery is willing to stretch weary legs with the bigger fixture coming at the weekend, which is why I’m doing something crazy and yet again forecasting that Denis Suarez is going to start as a wide attacker. I’m not entirely sure why I keep predicting that he will start, but if ever there was going to be a time, this would be it.

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Suarez has made all of zero impact since arriving at the end of January and it’s about time he gets a real chance to do something. Bournemouth should be a match of pure cherry-picking (ha) with how little they have to play for, and from the safety of the Emirates, it’s the perfect match to get Suarez a little bit of experience before we have to decide if we want to buy him or not.

Opposite him, I hope to see Henrikh Mkhitaryan, though I would hope Emery would have a quick hook to get him out of there once a lead is established, because an in-form Mkhitaryan is vital for the North London Derby.

But he’s just too hot not to start right now. Even if we only get 45 minutes out of him, those are 45 minutes with our most in-form creator, and that’s worth every bit of risk.

Normally I’d put Alex Iwobi in here, but as his injury situation is not clarified, probably best to save him for the weekend.

Next up, let’s get frisky with the No. 10 and striker.