Mesut Ozil
Mesut Ozil has to be at his best for Arsenal to take anything from the fixture Getty

Arsenal host Bournemouth at the Emirates on 28 December as the Gunners look to bounce back from their 4-0 annihilation at Southampton. A win here will see the north London club go top of the league, with Leicester City set to play Manchester City later in the month.

Where to watch live

Kick-off is set for 5.30pm GMT. Highlights of the game will be available on BBC Match of the Day at 10.30pm GMT on BBC One.

Overview

Arsenal need a massive performance against Bournemouth to subside the disappointment from their defeat against the Saints on Boxing Day, which can be a turning point in their title challenge. The Gunners fell on the wrong end of some controversial decisions by the referees, but Arsene Wenger was critical of their overall application in the game.

Mesut Ozil, who has accumulated 15 assists thus far and orchestrated the Gunners's attack in a major way, failed to get himself into the game. He was well covered by Southampton's Victor Wanyama. This coupled with the injury crisis meant that the Gunners did not have a back up plan, something Wenger will be wary of when they take the field again, less than 48 hours later.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth will be fancying their chances against a depleted Arsenal side, having already recorded victories over Chelsea and Manchester United in their recent run of form. The newly promoted side have taken 12 points from a possible 18 in the last six games, which has taken them out of the relegation zone and with a fighting chance of surviving in the league.

They have won their last their last two visits to the capital while winning five of their last six visits at London. However, Eddie Howe will be slightly worried about his side's defensive record against set pieces, having conceded 12 goals thus far, the maximum in the league.

What managers say

Arsene Wenger: "We are in a job where you have to respond. Unfortunately there is no possible career without disappointment. Not even the best players in the world can have that so it is down to how you respond and I trust my players to respond in a very strong way on Monday. I think we have many players who are injured and come back soon. Buy, buy, buy is always the solution people see but tonight we couldn't score and we conceded goals but we have enough defenders.

Eddie Howe: "It will be difficult, we don't have the biggest of squads. "We have to manage the players well and maybe tweak the side slightly. Not in terms of returning players from injury. We back our squad, so there may be one or two changes."

Betting odds (888Sport)

  • Arsenal win: 1/2
  • Draw: 13/11
  • Bournemouth win: 13/2

Team news

Arsenal

Possible XI: Cech; Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Gibbs; Chambers, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Walcott; Giroud.

Bournemouth

Possible XI: Boruc; Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels; Ritchie, O'Kane, Surman, Gosling, Stanislas; Murray.

Arsenal FC