Arsenal vs Bournemouth team news LIVE: Mathieu Debuchy makes first Gunners start since last year while Jack Wilshere ineligible for Emirates return

ARSENE WENGER goes into today's clash with Bournemouth with several absentees from his squad - handing right-back Mathieu Debuchy his first start for a year.

Spaniards Hector Bellerin, Lucas Perez and Santi Cazorla are still sidelined along with long-term absentees Per Mertesacker and Danny Welbeck.

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Granit Xhaka returns to the starting eleven for the Premier League clash, but Debuchy has brought back in from the cold at the Emirates, having last played in the North London derby last November.

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Wenger used Francis Coquelin and Aaron Ramsey as his midfield pairing last time out, but both start on the bench - while Nacho Monreal replaces Kieran Gibbs at left-back.

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There will be no Emirates return for Jack Wilshere on Sunday. Bournemouth’s loan star is ineligible to play against his parent club.

His absence means Harry Arter takes up his role in the No10 position behind Callum Wilson, while Adam Smith and Brad Smith come in at full back.

And Nathan Ake will likely step into midfield after filling in at centre-half against Stoke last week.

Lewis Cook is the only long-term absentee for the Cherries while Eddie Howe will be awaiting the results of fitness tests on Jordan Ibe, Artur Boruc and Andrew Surman before naming his team.

Arsenal likely line-up:

Cech; Jenkinson, Mustafi, Koscielny, Gibbs; Xhaka, Ramsey; Walcott, Ozil, Iwobi; Sanchez

Bournemouth likely line-up: Boruc; Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels; Gosling, Ake; Stanislas, Arter, King; Wilson

10 Facts

• Arsenal have won all three of their previous meetings with Bournemouth in all competitions, scoring seven and conceding none.
• Mesut Ozil has had a hand in three of Arsenal’s four Premier League goals against the Cherries, scoring two and assisting one.
• Of current Premier League managers, Arsene Wenger (20 years, 58 days) and Eddie Howe (4 years, 47 days) are the two longest serving managers at their respective clubs (on the day of the game).
• When Arsene Wenger took charge of Arsenal on October 1st 1996, Eddie Howe was only 19 years old and had made just five league appearances as a player (all for Bournemouth).
• Arsenal have conceded twice as many Premier League goals at home this season (8) as they have away from home (4).
• In his last eight Premier League appearances, Olivier Giroud has attempted eight shots on target and scored with seven of these.
• Giroud has scored against 20 of the 25 different teams that he’s played against in the Premier League, but Bournemouth are one of the sides that he’s yet to score versus in the competition (0 goals, 2 apps).
• Bournemouth have hit the woodwork 13 times in the Premier League this season; six more times than any other team.
• Arsenal have averaged 163 successful passes in the final third of the pitch per game this season; more than any other side.
• The Gunners have seen their substitutes provide five goals and five assists in the Premier League this season; more than any other team.
• Arsenal are the only side in the Premier League yet to be losing at half-time in a match this season (winning six, drawing six). In fact, they haven’t been behind in a PL game at half-time since February 28th 2016.