Mikel Arteta explains risky Arsenal team selection against Bournemouth

Mikel Arteta made just two changes to the Arsenal team that lost against Paris Saint-Germain in midweek for the visit of Bournemouth on Saturday.

The Gunners have a mountain to climb if they are to reach the Champions League final following Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat at the hands of Luis Enrique’s in-form team.

While the Spaniard rested 10 players from the start against Strasbourg with the Ligue title already in the bag, Arteta went with a virtually full-strength XI.

Thomas Partey, suspended in midweek, returned to the midfield with Mikel Merino dropping to the bench, while Ben White replaced Jurrien Timber at right-back.

Given the importance of next Wednesday’s second leg at Parc des Princes, it was a surprise to many fans that Arteta opted against rotating.

Manchester City’s win over Wolves on Friday night, however, means the recently deposed champions are now just three points behind the Gunners.

Chelsea and Newcastle, too, have been gaining ground on Arteta’s side in recent weeks and although it would take a collapse of almighty proportions for Arsenal to drop out of the top five, the Gunners boss is keen to build some momentum ahead of the club’s biggest European game for 16 years.

‘We still have a lot to do in the Premier League and we are working many many months to be in the position that we are we cannot win it so be the best of the rest,’ said Arteta when asked about the strength of his starting XI.

On the fitness of Timber and Merino, he added: ‘Both of them were unable to start the game. Jurrien is out and let’s see how he evolves. The rest is OK.’

Bournemouth, for their part, were still harbouring ambitions of European qualification and having beaten Arsenal earlier this season were full of confidence.

‘We have to respect Arsenal knowing they have been better then us over the season, but maybe over 90 minutes we can definitely beat them,” Andoni Iraola said prior to the match.