Arsenal v Bournemouth: Line-ups, stats and preview

Match preview for Arsenal v Bournemouth

With the title race officially over, Arsenal’s focus is on their Champions League semi-final with Paris Saint-Germain. While the Gunners would be forgiven for looking ahead to next Wednesday’s second leg in Paris, they must refocus on the visit of Bournemouth, as victory could secure their place in next season’s Champions League.

Liverpool clinched the title last Sunday with a 5-1 win over Tottenham at Anfield after Arsenal were held by Crystal Palace, a 13th draw of the season for the Gunners.

All that did was serve to confirm an inevitability, with Liverpool having long since taken control of the title fight amid consistent slip-ups by Mikel Arteta’s men.

Arsenal were second-best in the first leg with PSG on Tuesday, losing by a 1-0 margin that could have been greater. However, if they can get back to winning ways on Saturday and Chelsea suffer defeat to Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, then Arsenal will be sure of a place at European football’s top table again in 2025-26. That will also be the case if Arsenal win either side of defeats for Nottingham Forest in games with Brentford and Crystal Palace on Thursday and Monday.

But victory is far from a given against Bournemouth, who dealt Arsenal a blow in the reverse fixture back in October, which saw Andoni Iraola’s men prevail 2-0 in a game that saw William Saliba sent off.

Bournemouth are still chasing a potential European place themselves. Yet they have won just one of their last nine league games in a run dating back to February.

The Cherries have never won away at Arsenal. Just a point behind eighth-placed Fulham, Saturday would be the ideal time for them to start.

Team news for Arsenal v Bournemouth

Defender Riccardo Calaifiori is set to again miss out with a knee injury for Arsenal, who will also be without long-term absentees Kai Havertz (hamstring), Jorginho (chest), Gabriel Jesus (ACL), Gabriel (hamstring) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee).

Bournemouth will have striker Evanilson available after his red card against Manchester United was overturned by an independent panel. Luis Sinisterra could return from a hamstring injury, but Enes Unal (knee) and Ryan Christie (groin) will play no part in the final four games of the season.

Predicted line-ups for Arsenal v Bournemouth

Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard

Bournemouth: Kepa; Smith, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Adams, Cook; Semenyo, Kluivert, Ouattara; Evanilson

How to watch Arsenal v Bournemouth: TV and online streams

Arsenal v Bournemouth will kick-off at 5.30pm UK time. It will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. It will also be available to stream on Sky Go.

Stats for Arsenal v Bournemouth

• In 8 of the last 10 Arsenal matches in the Premier League, the sum of goals was under 3.5
• In 11 of the last 12 Bournemouth away matches in the Premier League, the sum of goals was over 2.5
• Arsenal’s 1-0 loss to PSG was the first time they had failed to score in any competition since February 26.

Prediction

Bournemouth have more than enough quality to expose an Arsenal side that looked very vulnerable against PSG despite only conceding one goal. Still, Arsenal are likely to be willing to play with more freedom in this one, which should lead to plenty of goals at both ends and a bounce-back performance, albeit not one that is likely to worry PSG.

Prediction: Arsenal 3-2 Bournemouth