Arsenal will take on Bournemouth at the Emirates, and they need to win this game at all costs to stay alive in the title race.
There is a sense of optimism around the Arsenal camp and their fanbase that Manchester City will drop points somewhere during their four remaining games, although their next game against Bournemouth is no less tricky. Nonetheless, the Gunners have a superior goal difference to Pep Guardiola’s side, which would make them favourites should the current champions falter anywhere. However, the North Londoners need to win all their remaining games.
If there were any doubts about Arsenal’s credentials before the start of last week, then they have quashed those with back-to-back London Derby wins. After demolishing Chelsea, the Gunners went in for a tough test at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and came back with three points, albeit with some late tension.
Despite Spurs dominating possession and being the better team in the first half, Arsenal took an unassailable 3-0 lead. The Gunners seemed destined to end the game with another clean sheet. But David Raya gifted Tottenham a goal, and then late on, Declan Rice conceded a penalty. Ange Postecoglou’s side barely created anything concrete to trouble Mikel Arteta’s side, enabling the Gunners to remain tight in the title race.
Bournemouth come for their annual visit to the Emirates and will not fondly remember their game there last season. Reiss Nelson’s winning goal at the death produced one of the most dramatic endings to a match at the venue. But this time around, Arteta will want to stay more careful and not concede at all.
That is the challenge on Andoni Iraola’s hands coming into this game. This is a Bournemouth side under the Spaniard that has transformed from the ones that met Arsenal earlier in the season. The Cherries made easy work of Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend and crashed into the top half of the table, clinching a club-record points haul in a Premier League campaign.
They are under no pressure in the remaining games of the season, although Iraola will want to keep hold of their current position to call it a successful campaign. Every team has struggled against Arsenal, but the Bournemouth manager will take inspiration from Aston Villa, who managed to negate the Gunners on their home turf.
Team News & Tactics
Arsenal
For another week running, Arsenal will enter a key matchday with their entire squad fit and available for selection. In fact, Jurrien Timber has made enough progress with games for the Under-21 side and might see his chance to get into the matchday squad for Saturday’s clash.
Mikel Arteta might not make any changes to his lineup and name the same personnel for a third game running. This means that Thomas Partey will keep his place in the middle of the park, while Takehiro Tomiyasu will play the left-back role.
Arteta may view the team that took on Chelsea and Tottenham as his strongest so far and will want to fine-tune them ahead of their trip to Old Trafford next Sunday. He could also continue to use Leandro Trossard on the left side of the attack instead of Gabriel Martinelli.
Kai Havertz, who produced one of his best performances against Tottenham, will continue to lead the line ahead of Gabriel Jesus, with the Brazilian’s long-term future cast into doubt. It will be interesting to see who the manager gives a chance on the bench, especially if Arsenal are in a comfortable position around the second half against Bournemouth.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Raya; Ben White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Trossard
Bournemouth
Bournemouth have a rather long injury list to contend with, and Andoni Iraola will rue his luck, having seen Antoine Semenyo being stretchered off against Brighton & Hove Albion. The attacker was later seen hobbling on crutches after the game, which could potentially rule him out for months.
While there is a wait to find out the extent and nature of his injury, he will certainly miss the game against Arsenal. Semenyo joins Ryan Fredericks, Luis Sinisterra, Marcus Tavernier, and Romain Faivre on the sidelines. Additionally, Milos Kerkez will miss out due to a suspension after his red card against Wolves.
There are doubts about Chris Mepham, Philip Billing, and Illia Zabarnyi due to illness. But they will be assessed before the game and before Iraola decides on his selections. Tyler Adams also has a back issue, but the American still has not been ruled out completely.
Semenyo’s absence means Iraola might move Alex Scott to the right wing, with Ryan Christie coming into the side and playing in Bournemouth’s midfield. The Cherries will persist with two attackers in the leading role, with Dominic Solanke joined by Enes Unal in the front two.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Travers; Smith, Senesi, Kelly, Ouattara; Scott, Cook, Christie, Kluivert; Unal, Solanke
Key Stats
- Arsenal have won 13 of their last 15 matches in the Premier League.
- Arsenal have won their last six home matches against Bournemouth in all competitions.
- Arsenal have won six of their last seven matches at home in the Premier League.
- Arsenal have scored at least two goals in 13 of their last 15 matches in the Premier League.
- The Cherries have now achieved their largest-ever Premier League points total, with three games still to play.
Player to Watch
Kai Havertz
There must be many taking the idea of Kai Havertz playing so well with a pinch of salt. That is comprised of fans, journalists, and pundits alike, who ridiculed Arsenal’s big spending on the German international. But it has more than come well for the team this season.
After two exceptional performances against Chelsea and Tottenham, Havertz is more than assured of his admiration among the Arsenal fanbase, who are firmly behind him. There is still the matter of performing at the highest levels for the three remaining games, and hence, Havertz will be the man in focus at the Emirates when Arsenal take on Bournemouth.
Prediction
Arsenal 3-0 Bournemouth
Bournemouth are one of the most in-form teams in the division and will enter this clash at the Emirates with optimism to get something away from here. However, they are staring at a long injury list, and while they may have many of their key stars still available, they might need more depth to take on a team like Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta will want the pressure to keep pushing his players to their best levels and will want nothing short of three points. The Gunners must collect a win and keep up their chase of the title, and this time, they might avoid making the mistakes they committed against Tottenham and get another clean sheet.