Mikel Arteta could surprisingly start key Arsenal players against Bournemouth instead of resting them for the huge Champions League clash at PSG.
That is the thinking of Paul Merson who believes that Saturday’s Premier League result will play a crucial role in Arsenal’s Champions League hopes.
The Gunners travel to Paris next Wednesday needing to overturn a one-goal deficit after losing at the Emirates earlier this week, with a place in the UCL final at stake.
Before that, they host Bournemouth and since Liverpool have been crowned Premier League champions, it is expected that Arteta will rotate his side, especially given their injury issues this season.
But Merson believes that the head coach may name a strong team instead to secure a win and get momentum going ahead of the match at the Parc des Princes and to ensure they finish second in the table.
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‘Arsenal must beat Bournemouth this weekend to stand any chance of turning things around against PSG,’ the Gunners legend told Sportskeeda.
‘If Manchester City, Newcastle, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest win this weekend, Arsenal not winning against Bournemouth will be a problem. Suddenly, that second-place will start to come under threat from the chasing pack and Arsenal don’t want that!
‘So they could be forced to start the likes of Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice among others once again. I think they will get the job done this weekend. Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Bournemouth.’
With four games to go, Arsenal are five points ahead of Newcastle, with third to sixth in the table separated by just two points.
Merson also believes that Arteta made a mistake in the first-leg against PSG by partnering Rice and Mikel Merino in midfield in the absence of the suspended Thomas Partey.
‘Arsenal were a million miles off PSG the other day. That early goal from PSG killed them. The atmosphere went quiet quickly and the players knew another goal would kill them in the tie!
‘Arsenal were lucky enough to get beat by only 1-0 in the end. I thought they looked nervous, this group has not played in a Champions League semi-final before and it showed.
‘I wasn’t shocked by the fact that PSG dominated Arsenal in midfield. The Gunners got overrun because Partey wasn’t playing. I would have played Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield and asked Merino to play up front.
‘Arsenal made too many changes for a game like that in my opinion. When Partey comes back in the second leg, that midfield will be a lot stronger for sure.’
Asked if Partey would be in the starting XI for the Bournemouth clash, Arteta said in his pre-match press conference: ‘He was suspended. I have the opportunity to play him tomorrow, yes.
‘Now we will assess how the squad is, what we want to do tomorrow, set Sunday up with the players that we have available and do the line-up and the possible subs.’
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