Mikel Arteta names Mesut Ozil in first Arsenal starting line-up as team news is confirmed for Bournemouth game
Mikel Arteta has named Mesut Ozil in his first starting XI as Arsenal manager.
Alexandre Lacazette also starts the game, though Nicolas Pepe is on the bench for the visit to Bournemouth.
Ozil missed the game against Everton - Freddie Ljungberg's final as interim boss - through illness, but would not have been included if he had been fit, the Swede later revealed owing to his act of petulance against Manchester City.
Previous manager Unai Emery also had problems with the player.
“There are games in which you see Mesut’s brilliance, linking with the attack,” Emery said. “But also I had to find players around him so he felt comfortable.
“Also the team needed to feel solid. And when you, little by little, have to build a team that is aggressive, intense, as well as structured for good pressure, we also had to find a space for Mesut.
“Ozil is a very important player if you can find a way to make it work with other players.
“He has talent that allows other players to be better, but when you want a bit more aggressive pressure he does not have the best qualities for that.”
For hosts Bournemouth, Harry Wilson is on the bench, but Simon Francis is sidelined with what the club say is a knock.
Confirmed teams
Bournemouth: Ramsdale, Steve Cook, Mepham, Simpson, Stacey, Lewis Cook, Lerma, Gosling, Fraser, Callum Wilson, King
Subs: Boruc, Surman, Solanke, Stanislas, Harry Wilson, Billing, Kilkenny
Arsenal: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Luiz, Papastathopoulos, Saka, Xhaka, Torreira, Nelson, Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette
Subs: Pepe, Mustafi, Martinez, Mavropanos, Willock, Guendouzi, Smith-Rowe