Arsenal take on AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League on Boxing Day and this will be the first game in charge of new Gunners boss Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners took on Everton last weekend where Arteta was watching from the stands and on Thursday, the former Man City assistant will name his first XI.
Most people are busy predicting how the new boss will sort out the Arsenal defence at Dean Court but according to Charlie Nicholas, Arteta will not be too worried about the defence.
The pundit feels, Mikel Arteta will not be able to solve any major problems in the defensive areas right now which is why he will urge his players to enter the match with an attacking mindset.
Nicholas wrote for Sky Sports: “I hope it is a good news story for Mikel Arteta’s first game. As much as I am pleased, Freddie Ljungberg will be most pleased that Arteta is in.
“His comments on the Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette situations were shameful. What was he saying?
“I will support all of the youngsters wholeheartedly, but the one thing I already like about Arteta is that he had them in on Sunday, which shows his leadership qualities already, to say this is poor and start straight away to get them in and rebuild.
“When Nicolas Pepe settles in, with Lacazette through middle, Arsenal are a really encouraging front three with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
“Arteta cannot sort the defence, and he will go with a more aggressive mentality, and this will begin to pay off in this match.”
The Gunners are currently 11th on the Premier League table and they go into this match against the Cherries having won just one out of their previous five league matches.
And with a match against Chelsea coming up next weekend, Mikel Arteta will have very little time to sort things out for the Emirates outfit.
