Arsenal host Bournemouth in a crunch top vs bottom clash at Emirates Stadium.
Should Manchester City lose in the lunchtime kick-off, Arsenal could extend their title lead to eight points with victory.
Bournemouth meanwhile can climb out of the relegation zone with a win.
Team News
Jorginho could return for Arsenal after he missed their midweek win against Everton due to illness.
Eddie Nketiah (knock) is a doubt but Mohamed Elneny and Gabriel Jesus (both knee) remain absent.
Bournemouth could be without Matias Vina after he missed their defeat against Manchester City with a knee injury last weekend.
Lloyd Kelly (calf) and Lewis Cook (knee) are doubts but Illia Zabarnyi (ankle), Marcus Tavernier (hamstring), Junior Stanislas (unspecified) and David Brooks (fitness) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Arsenal host Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium on Saturday 4 March at 3pm GMT, albeit untelvised in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their last five league meetings against Bournemouth (W4, D1).
- Bournemouth have lost all five previous league visits to Arsenal (L5).
- Arsenal have kept clean sheets in three of their five previous league matches at home to Bournemouth, during which they conceded once in each of the two games in which they didn’t keep a clean sheet.
- Bukayo Saka has scored in three of his last four home appearances for Arsenal.
- Adam Smith has been yellow carded in each of his last three away appearances for Bournemouth.
Prediction
Having ruthlessly thrashed Everton in midweek with a clean sheet to boot after showing patience in the first half, Arsenal certainly can come into this game believing that they can put their title dreams into their own hands over the coming weeks.
Bournemouth meanwhile might of lost heavily against Man City last weekend through sloppy marking and some poor passes, yet they did genuinely take the game to City in terms of attacking quality which they have to replicate here and hope Arsenal have an off day.
I though just can’t see Mikel Arteta’s Gunners slipping up but if Bournemouth can maximise their fitness advantage and defend better, this result could be closer for the hosts than it was in midweek.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Bournemouth
Result: Arsenal 3-2 Bournemouth
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