Mikel Arteta was knocking on wood before the international break hoping for better injury luck this time around. It did not do the trick.

The Arsenal manager has no fewer than six injury doubts heading into Saturday’s clash with Bournemouth. Kieran Tierney, Martin Odegaard and Takehiro Tomiyasu are definitely out of the game, while late decisions will be made on Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Ben White, Jurrien Timber and Oleksandr Zinchenko. Goalkeeper Neto is also ineligible to play against his parent club, reducing Arteta’s options even further.

Still though, the Spaniard will know that he cannot afford to slip up. Manchester City and Liverpool are already setting the pace at the top of the Premier League, and it’s crucial that Arsenal don’t drop points.

Arteta also has a midweek Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk to consider, and with all that going on, it’s absolutely vital that he gets his team selection right. Here’s who football.london are expecting the Spaniard to start at the Vitality Stadium.