Mikel Arteta can now match Pep Guardiola by making bold Arsenal decision vs Bournemouth

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta could show his development as a manager against Bournemouth on Saturday.

After two weeks off on international duty, the Arsenal squad regroup to travel to the South Coast to play Bournemouth.

The Gunners remain unbeaten after seven games played this season, sitting just one point off the summit.

Arteta will be eager for his side to continue where they left off before the October break however, some decisions will have to be made regarding selection.

• READ MORE: Arsenal receive unexpected international break boost over Man City, Arteta should take advantage

Early Arsenal team news vs Bournemouth

Arsenal suffered an injury blow during the September international break, with captain Martin Odegaard yet to return from his ankle problem. 

The October break didn’t show a change in luck at Colney, as Bukayo Saka withdrew from the England squad and Gabriel Martinelli underwent scans after feeling some discomfort in Brazil.

Added to the two latest casualties, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber did not feature on duty, which in a worse case scenario means that Arsenal could be without 11 players against Bournemouth.

• READ MORE: Arsenal’s plan for Gabriel Martinelli revealed after international injury concern

As well as the five players mentioned, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Ben White, Kieran Tierney and Thomas Partey have made the headlines due to posing a possible doubt, with Neto ineligible to play against his parent club.

While there remains optimism over the fitness of first teamers Martinelli, Saka and Havertz, Arteta could be tempted to adopt a precautionary approach to the battle at the Vitality.

Mikel Arteta can deploy Pep Guardiola tactic against Bournemouth 

The new injuries to Saka and Martinelli will come as a concern to Arteta, with both wingers being integral to how Arsenal play.

With the Brazilian, the manager will want him fit to continue his form however, with Saka, a more precautionary approach should be taken.

Hamstring injuries should not be treated with naivety when suffered by an explosive wide player, which should prompt Arteta to now take a leaf out of Pep Guardiola’s book.

• READ MORE: Arsenal fans given latest injury update on Ben White and Jurrien Timber ahead of Bournemouth clash

The Spaniard, and former colleague of the Arsenal boss, frequently rotates his squad, which is of course helped by the world-class depth he has available to him at Manchester City.

It’s a tactic that has clearly worked for Guardiola, as the Premier League cited that Man City usually top the charts when it comes to most starting XI changes per league season, via Premier League data. 

City are on the charge to claim their fifth-consecutive title win, emphasising the importance of rotation on the journey to success.

Now that Arteta is armed with better depth, the manager should use the Bournemouth fixture to rotate and show his maturity as a coach through adaptability, particularly as fiercer challenges await the Gunners.