Arsenal: 5 key players to see us through Bournemouth in FA Cup

Arsenal return to action to face Bournemouth as they seek to press on in the FA Cup. Here are five key players to ensure a progression to the next round.

After showing tremendous spirit for fight back and take a point from Stamford Bridge, expectations are pretty lofty for Arsenal. Their next test takes them to the Vitality Stadium to face Bournemouth in the FA Cup.

Mikel Arteta will have his eye on practical rotation. Obviously we want some guys to have a seat, perhaps to rest their legs, perhaps because we just like them better seated. But there are also certain guys that we’d like to see get off that seat and back on the pitch, and I think you’ll find this key players list is composed entirely of excitement, not of necessity. Though that’s a factor too.

There are a lot of missing pieces and questions in this one, and Mikel Arteta will have his work cut out for him picking the proper starting XI, but the resources are still there to pair practicality with potential.

Given the need to rotate, and the missing pieces already out of the mix, let’s dig into the five key players. We start where we always do, with No. 5.

5. Nicolas Pepe

Nicolas Pepe is one of those guys that could probably use a rest, but given how high on confidence he is at the moment, paired with how little options there are, he’s likely to get the start regardless of how he’s feeling.

Reiss Nelson, who would presumably have been eyeing the start instead, will be out with injury and all other hands are needed elsewhere. Which is just fine because Pepe has the ability to change the match all on his own, and he will be one of the more veteran players in this attacking scheme.

As always, Pepe’s ability to catch lightning in a bottle makes him a constant presence on any key players list. Look for him to keep that confidence going, especially given the context of the match and who he has around him.

Speaking of which, on to No. 4.