AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth will be hoping to build on their encouraging start to the season when they face Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Sunday (2pm kick-off).
Eddie Howe’s team have taken 11 points from their first seven Premier League games and currently lie eighth in the table.
The Gunners are fourth having banked 12 points from wins over Newcastle, Burnley and Aston Villa and draws with Tottenham, Watford and Manchester United.
Unai Emery’s team also registered a convincing 5-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in the third round of the Carabao Cup and won both Europa League group games against Eintracht Frankfurt and Standard Liege.
The Cherries will be searching for their first points at Emirates Stadium in five attempts, while the Gunners have lost just one Premier League game at the venue since the opening day of last season.
Crystal Palace are the only team to lower their colours at home in the top flight in the past 14 months with the Gunners winning 16 and drawing four of their 21 games.
Ahead of the game, afcb.co.uk caught up with JACK ROSSER, who covers the fortunes of Arsenal for the Evening Standard.
afcb.co.uk: What was your take on the 1-1 draw against Manchester United?
JR: It was an awful game and one Arsenal will probably feel a little disappointed at.
Though they came from a goal down and took a point, a draw at Old Trafford, especially in these circumstances, is no longer something to shout about.
It was a real chance missed in the battle for the top four.
One positive to take was the performance of Bukayo Saka.
Unai Emery has showed a lot of faith in the 18-year-old, who looked the Gunners' most impressive player for most of the evening, perhaps just behind Matteo Guendouzi for their man of the match.
afcb.co.uk: Do you think the Gunners are serious title contenders or is it already a two-horse race again?
JR: I don't think even the most optimistic in the Arsenal camp would have considered themselves in the title race before the start of the season.
They recruited some good players over the summer but some key problems still remain in the squad.
They remain a long, long way off both Manchester City and Liverpool in terms of their progress as a squad, and getting back into the Champions League was always going to be the main target for Emery's second season.
afcb.co.uk: Matteo Guendouzi (pictured above) has received a lot of plaudits this season – what’s your opinion on him?
JR: He's developed into a real leader within this Arsenal squad, that he was a contender to be one of Emery's 'five captains' at the club is a mark of just how influential a player he could be going forward.
His tireless performances have been dotted with some moments of real quality, too, and the bigger the occasion the more Arsenal seem to get from the midfielder.
He has the potential to be a key pillar in this Arsenal team for a long time.
afcb.co.uk: How has Unai Emery found trying to step into the shoes of Arsene Wenger?
JR: It is not a task many would want to take on.
Replacing a manager of Wenger's stature was never going to be easy, but having the task of pulling Arsenal from the slump they experienced in the Frenchman's final years, with the squad he inherited, was only going to make things more difficult.
There are few who are upset with Emery, however, he has made steps to first make Arsenal top-four contenders once more before building back towards, they hope, a title tilt in the near future.
However, old problems still remain, the 2-2 with Watford having been two goals to the good a prime example.
afcb.co.uk: How has the appointment of a leadership group been received by supporters?
JR: I think it is a positive move by Emery.
One key problem highlighted at Arsenal for the best part of a decade now has been a lack of real leaders.
There are still no players such as Tony Adams or Martin Keown in this side, though one wonders if those characters still exist anywhere in modern football.
But Emery has moved to create a group of strong characters in the dressing room, while the likes of Guendouzi and Rob Holding will be waiting in the wings to step up into such a role.
afcb.co.uk: Who is the Gunners’ dangerman?
JR: One man everyone will be wary of is, of course, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (pictured above).
His only flaw at Arsenal was a poor record away to the big six, something he took the first steps in rectifying at Manchester United on Monday.
While problems remain at the back he, as well as Alexandre Lacazette when fit, has the ability to give Arsenal hope out of nothing. A true game-changer.
afcb.co.uk: The Cherries have lost all four visits to the Emirates – what’s your score prediction?
JR: 2-1.
Arsenal had European commitments in the week, but their quality will likely be too much for Bournemouth.
David Luiz's start to life in the Arsenal defence, however, means a clean sheet is hard to guarantee.
You can follow Jack on Twitter – @JackRosser_
Match officials: Martin Atkinson (referee), Constantine Hatzidakis (assistant), Adam Nunn (assistant), Peter Bankes (fourth official), Anthony Taylor (VAR), Andy Halliday (assistant VAR).
