Arsenal welcome Bournemouth to the Emirates Stadium as both teams look to mount bids for European spots.
Arsenal can go third if they take victory whilst Bournemouth are looking to leapfrog their hosts and go fourth with all three points.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesAlexandre Lacazette is Arsenal’s only absentee for the home clash with Bournemouth as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Pepe push for a recall to the starting eleven, after being used as subs in Thursday’s Europa League win over Standard Liege.
Bournemouth could be without Ryan Fraser due to illness as Eddie Howe considers naming an unchanged team that drew with West Ham last weekend.
Dan Gosling and Adam Smith close in on returns from respective groin and thigh injuries, although the pair are unlikely to be in contention here alongside David Brooks (ankle) who could return at the end of this month.
Charlie Daniels and Junior Stanislas remain out with knee injuries whilst Chris Mepham is absent with a calf strain.
Form
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last seven across all competitions, despite drawing three of their last four league games of which Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has netted five league goals in that period.
Bournemouth are yet to keep a clean sheet in the league this season but are unbeaten in their last three matches, despite drawing with West Ham last weekend.
Stat Attack
- This is Arsenal’s tenth meeting with Bournemouth in all competitions.
- Arsenal are unbeaten in seven of eight Premier League meetings with the Cherries (W6, D1, L1).
- Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored in both meetings against Bournemouth last season.
- Bournemouth’s Steve Cook has made a joint league high 54 clearances alongside Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings.
- Arsenal’s Joe Willock has played two through balls in six appearances this season compared to none in two appearances last season.
Prediction
This should be a great battle because we know that both teams are fantastic on the attack yet less so defensively, which should mean plenty of goals.
Arsenal however know how to squeeze points out of fixtures from behind so I can see a similar game to that of the one against Aston Villa, although I can see Bournemouth avoiding a similar fate to take a point.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-2 Bournemouth
Result: Arsenal 1-0 Bournemouth