Bukayo Saka plan ruined by familiar Arsenal trait as Mikel Arteta pick backfires at Bournemouth

Arsenal took on Bournemouth without Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard starting a Premier League game for the first time since the Norwegian signed for the club.

Arteta was hopeful that Saka would indeed make the game but sadly he failed to pass certain objectives. Before the match, Arteta said, “We tried the last few days.

"We tried yesterday and he didn't have the right feeling. If he feels like that then there's no point pushing him."

Raheem Sterling was given the nod to play on the right-hand side in the place of the usual starting winger.

William Saliba was sent off for a denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity as the Frenchman brought down Evanilson. Sterling moved to a right-back role for a short time before Jakub Kiwior eventually replaced him.

In the 30 minutes that we did get to see Sterling, he had a mixed display. The left-footed strength of Saka is of course not prevalent in his replacement, and that showed.

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As Arsenal got the former Man City and Chelsea winger into some advantageous positions, where Saka might shoot, Sterling would instead cut back to try and get the ball onto his right foot. Would a more confident Sterling strike it?

Perhaps, but the chances were there and he didn't take them. Arteta could have instead used Gabriel Jesus on the right as he did on several occasions last season, but the Brazilian's poor form maybe gave the Arsenal boss a nudge toward his different pick.

Saka will hopefully be back for the arrival of Liverpool next week. In his absence it is not as if his manager has been given a clear and obvious answer.