Arsenal will be hoping to put their bad start to the Premier League season behind them as they take on Bournemouth at home.

The Gunners have had a tough start to proceedings so far, scraping a 4-3 win against Leicester on the opening day before losing to Stoke and being thrashed by Liverpool. Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth could be the perfect team for Arsenal to face at this stage of the season, as they sit in the bottom three without a point from their first three games.

Arsenal have just one fresh injury concern to their star man Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean was probably not expecting to be in contention for Arsenal following his proposed deadline day move to Manchester City, but the forward remains at the Emirates and will be assessed for the game against Bournemouth after picking up an ankle injury away on international duty. Eddie Howe has some good news with Benik Afobe and Nathan Ake both set to return for the Cherries. However, Simon Francis looks set to miss out due to a hamstring problem.

Arsenal’s three home meetings with Bournemouth in all competitions have all ended in victory, and Bournemouth have only avoided defeat once against the Gunners – this came at the Vitality Stadium last season, when the Cherries let a three-goal lead slip to draw 3-3 in January in the Premier League. Arsenal have won their last 23 home Premier League matches against sides who started that day in the relegation zone, and have not lost three of their opening four games to a league campaign since 1982/83. There have been just eight previous sides who have lost their opening four games to a Premier League season. Of these eight sides, four have been relegated.

Predicted XI

Cech

Holding – Koscielny – Monreal

Bellerin – Xhaka – Ramsey – Kolasinac

Sanchez – Lacazette – Ozil

Predicted score: 3-0