Arsenal v Bournemouth Preview, Prediction and Team News
- Elliot Bloom
- Apr 10
- 4 min read
Arsenal host Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium at Saturday lunchtime as they look to inch ever closer to a first league title since 2004.
Bournemouth had a successful start to the season, but lately it has petered out somewhat with too many draws leaving them currently in 13th place.
Bournemouth caused Arsenal many problems in the reverse fixture at Vitality Stadium and they do generally have success against the top teams. The Cherries will be hoping to extend that success this weekend.
Arsenal Overview
Arsenal's season looked to be taking its annual Spring tumble, with exits in both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup and poor performances to match taking a potential quadruple down to a potential double.
But the Gunners bounced back after surviving a rocky start in Lisbon on Tuesday night to show character and find a late winner thanks to Kai Havertz's composure, giving them a crucial lead to take back to the Emirates next week.
Now, they will need to replicate that character into the league run-in. The cup defeats should be fully behind them. Now it is time to focus on the league. Arsenal currently sit nine points above Manchester City, who do have a game in hand.
Arsenal will know from experience that a title race with Man City is never over until it's over, and they have lost their lead in the league at similar stages of the season in year's past.
Bournemouth presents a potential banana skin for them. The Cherries came from behind to beat Arsenal 2-1 away from home last season. Mikel Arteta's side will also be aware of how close they came to defeat in January of this year at the Vitality.
The key for Arsenal in this one will be an early goal. If they can take an early lead it will not only settle any nerves, for both fans and players, but it will allow Arsenal to take a more reserved approach, invite Bournemouth onto them more and be comfortable in their 4-4-2 mid-block out of possession.
If Manchester City win the remainder of their games (and their form is rapidly improving), Arsenal's lead is effectively only three points due to City's game in hand and the fact they still welcome Arsenal to the Emirates. Arsenal therefore need to be wary that they are not complacent with this current nine point lead, and that starts with a statement victory at home to Bournemouth to kick off the run-in. In recent years, this has been the stage where Arsenal have historically and consistently fallen short.
Bournemouth Overview
Despite a strong start to the season, losing just one of their opening nine league games, Bournemouth's season has stalled somewhat. First and foremost, any Bournemouth season in the Premier League needs to end in survival above anything. The Cherries are currently thirteen points above the drop zone, so that objective has safely been achieved. They also still find themsleves only four points off the European places, which would be a huge achievement for a club of Bournemouth's stature.
However, a league-high fifteen draws (and five in a row) has meant a potential Champions League push may turn into a Europa League or Conference League push. This is still no small feat. Bournemouth lost many key players over the summer, and the ability of the rest of the squad and Andoni Iraola to bounce back so seamlessly is not easy and Bournemouth should be applauded for that.
Their off-ball style has meant they have had continued success against the more ball-dominant sides in the league. Bournemouth have so far taken points off Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle and Aston Villa so far this season. Their touch and directness on the counter attack means they are able to absorb pressure and counter quickly, and their pressing forces traps in areas that allow them to win the ball back high up the pitch and attack the final third in an instant. This pressure was on display in the home game vs Arsenal in January.
Team News
For Arsenal, lately they have been getting all their key pieces back at the perfect time, such as Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard, but fresh knocks to Odegaard as well as Leandro Trossard may rule them out of this one. Mikel Merino and Piero Hincapie are out. Jurrien Timber and Bukayo Saka may also be ruled out due to slight knocks.
For Bournemouth, Justin Kluivert and Lewis Cook are out of this match. Eli Junior Kroupi withdrew from France U-21 duty due to injury but is expected to be fit for this weekend. Tyler Adams is expected to be fit again.
Prediction
Arsenal did show character in their win v Sporting, but they were under siege at points and David Raya is to thank for their escape with a clean sheet. Bournemouth cause the top teams problems and I expect them to get on the scoresheet here. Arsenal need to prove that they are not the same team of year's past who stumble during the run-in, and until then, I fancy Bournemouth to come away with a draw.
