"Let's have fun", "Love to see it" - Arsenal fans excited after 28-year-old star is named in line-up to face Bournemouth
Arsenal fans are conveying their excitement on X after Mikel Arteta opted to hand summer signing Mikel Merino his first start of the season. The Gunners face Bournemouth in the Premier League at the Vitality Stadium later today (Saturday, October 19).
David Raya starts in goal for Arsenal. Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Riccardo Calafiori make up the defense. The midfield consists of Declan Rice, Thomas Partey, and Mikel Merino, while Raheem Sterling, Leandro Trossard, and Kai Havertz start up front to complete the starting XI.
Arsenal signed Merino over the summer from Real Sociedad. However, the Spaniard suffered a fractured shoulder in training soon after, sidelining him for six games across all competitions. The 28-year-old has made just two appearances off the bench to date and will be aiming to make an impact against Bournemouth.
One fan reacted to his inclusion by posting:
"Mikel Merino starts, let's have fun"
Another fan tweeted:
"Merino’s first start, I love to see it"
Other fan reactions can be viewed below:
"Finally get to watch merino from the start. Hopefully saka isn't too bad, but I feel comfortable with sterling or trossard out there," one fan commented.
"The Merino show is about to light up the Emirates," one fan predicted.
"Excited to see what Merino brings to the squad and Sterling on the wing is going to be electric," another added.
"Really pleased Merino is getting a run out," one fan posted.
"Our players score their first goals at Vitality over to u Merino," another chimed in.
"Saturday could be a different story" - Chris Sutton makes bold prediction for Bournemouth vs Arsenal PL clash
BBC Sport columnist Chris Sutton has predicted Arsenal to be held to a 1-1 draw by Bournemouth in their upcoming Premier League fixture. The Gunners are missing several key players, with Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard sidelined due to injury.
Arteta and Co. have a good opportunity to return to the top of the league table if they defeat the Cherries. They are currently third with 17 points from seven games, one point behind leaders Liverpool. In contrast, Bournemouth are 13th with eight points.
Arsenal are statistically the favorites to get all three points. They have won 11 out of their 14 league games against Bournemouth, including their last four with an aggregate of 13-2, scoring three or more goals each time.
Sutton wrote (via BBC Sport):
"This is another game I am really looking forward to. Arsenal have got a few injury issues to deal with, including Bukayo Saka, who limped off with a hamstring injury during England's defeat by Greece. He is in my fantasy team so I am hoping he will be fit, and so will all Gunners fans."
He added:
"Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli are also injury doubts, while Martin Odegaard is still sidelined, but we know that the Gunners can still grind out results even if they are missing some of their best attacking players. They have an excellent defence, which is behind this habit they have of always finding a way to get a result, but this time I would not be surprised if they came unstuck."
"Bournemouth always create chances, whoever they play against. The Cherries' issue has been that they have not always taken those opportunities... but Saturday could be a different story."
Sutton's Prediction: 1-1