Arsene Wenger is likely to have most of his squad at his disposal including Alexis Sanchez and Laurent Koscielny as Arsenal host Bournemouth on Saturday.
If there is any side that would have liked the international break, it would be Arsenal. A 4-0 hammering at the hands of Liverpool, the Gunners now look to improve their fortunes against Bournemouth on Saturday. And Arsene Wenger has almost a clean bill of health, a positive sign ahead of the fixture.
Alexis Sanchez has confirmed via his social media interactions that he is fit and raring to go. But, Arsene Wenger highlighted the Chilean’s lack of match fitness in the pre-match conference and iterated that he will take a look at the same before picking his starting eleven on Saturday.
“I have no doubt about Alexis’ mind and mentality that people question. He needs to come back to full fitness, which he was not at Liverpool. It was his first game. He suffered, he had a negative experience now with Chile but he is strong mentally and hopefully he will be back very quickly to his best.”
Alexis ready for tomorrow! #AS7 #AFC pic.twitter.com/NUU8Lr8wNZ
— Alexis Sánchez Fans (@AS7Officialfans) September 8, 2017
Elsewhere, Laurent Koscielny should also be fit for the clash on Saturday, despite receiving a knock during the international break while representing France. Wenger’s choice to field a three-man backline with players who are not natural centre-backs has been criticised and Koscielny’s return would be a big help.
Jack Wilshere continues his path to recovery and while he is starting to prove his fitness by playing for the Under-23s, he is still a fair distance away from being selected in the matchday squad while Santi Cazorla is not expected to be back before Christmas.
Wenger decided to bench Sead Kolasinac and Alexandre Lacazette for the Liverpool fixture – a move that was heavily criticised and the Arsenal manager is likely to reinstate the two into the starting lineup again as he seeks a firm response from his squad to the humiliating 4-0 loss.
For Bournemouth, captain Simon Francis should be back in contention for a spot in the starting eleven after recovering from a hamstring problem while Junior Stanislas and Callum Wilson continue their rehabilitation from their respective injuries.