Arsenal line-ups vs Bournemouth decided as Max Dowman starts and full-backs rotated

football.london reporters select their Arsenal starting XIs for the crunch Premier League clash against Bournemouth

This is arguably Arsenal's biggest game of the season yet as they have the chance to move a whopping 12 points clear of Manchester City.

It's an opportunity they cannot fluff ahead of next week's unmissable match-up with City at the Etihad Stadium.

For that reason, Mikel Arteta must go strong but equally, it appears he has a few key injury problems to contend with.

football.london reporters Tom Canton and Ryan Taylor have picked their starting XIs to face Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium.

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Tom Canton - Chief Arsenal Reporter

This is such a massive game and I think that Arsenal need a big and aggressive start to this match in order to lift an early kick-off crowd who tend to be in a bit of a slumber as a result of the match time. Therefore I am going aggressive with the attacking selection of this team.

With the issues at right and left back, I have picked a team with balance, allowing Lewis-Skelly, who covers the potentially absent Calafiori and Hincapie, to move into midfield. Mosquera, meanwhile, holds the line at right back.

Zubimendi and Rice will then be tasked with supporting a direct, creative and big-moment front four. Gyokeres stays in the box and runs the centre line, with Madueke, Dowman and Eze designed to carry, penetrate and create for the big man and get off shots when they can around the Bournemouth box.

Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Bournemouth: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Zubimendi, Rice, Dowman; Madueke, Gyokeres, Eze.

Ryan Taylor

Mikel Arteta's coy injury update has created an element of intrigue ahead of his crucial match-up.

I was at the game last May when Bournemouth scored two second-half goals from set-pieces to stun Arsenal.

Ben White has played a fair bit of football of late, so I would go for Cristhian Mosquera at right-back as he's a sturdy and trustworthy defender, who will also provide height when attacking and defending set-plays.

William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes pick themselves while Myles Lewis-Skelly could be in for only his second Premier League start of the season if Riccardo Calafiori is not available.

I'd bring Eberechi Eze in as the No.10 with Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi behind him in the centre of the park.

Max Dowman has to start for me, I am such a huge fan and feel he's more than ready to make an impact from the beginning while I'd also go with Gabriel Martinelli on the left and Viktor Gyokeres in attack.

Martinelli's assist in the week was impressive as it seems rare that he comes inside - he usually hits the byline - and I liked the small adjustments he made in Lisbon in possession.

Kai Havertz is unlucky not to start following his winner in Portugal, too but he could be set for a key role from the bench as a "finisher".

Taylor's Arsenal XI vs Bournemouth: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Dowman, Gyokeres, Martinelli