Arsenal responded to recent adversity by beating Sporting CP in the Champions League in midweek, and now Mikel Arteta’s team’s attentions turn back to their pursuit of the Premier League title as they entertain Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
After losing the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City and being dumped out of the FA Cup by Championship side Southampton, the pressure was on Arteta and his players to return to winning ways in Lisbon on Tuesday. They just about managed to do so, courtesy of a late winner from Kai Havertz.
The German made an intelligent run into the box in the 91st-minute and was found by an excellent clipped pass from Gabriel Martinelli, before slotting beyond Rui Silva. While they will be delighted with the result at the Jose Alvalade Stadium, Arsenal certainly weren’t at their best and will need to play significantly better between now and the end of the season if they are to claim silverware.
However, despite some of the negative noise surrounding recent performances, the Gunners have a golden opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to 12 points when the Cherries visit N5 on Saturday. Arteta’s men host Bournemouth over 24 hours before Manchester City travel to West London to take on Chelsea.
Thus, this has the potential to be a hugely pivotal weekend in the title race, and the Gunners could find themselves in a seemingly unassailable position before they visit the Etihad next Sunday.
In the reverse fixture between Arsenal and Bournemouth back in January, the North Londoners claimed all three points in an enthralling game on the south coast. A brace from Declan Rice and a goal from Gabriel Magalhaes cancelled out strikes from Junior Kroupi and Evanilson for the home team.
This was Andoni Iraola’s side’s last defeat in the league, and thus, this Saturday’s clash in Islington will be a stern test for Arsenal.
| Date | Result | Competition |
| 03/01/2026 | Bournemouth 2-3 Arsenal | Premier League |
| 03/05/2025 | Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth | Premier League |
| 19/10/2024 | Bournemouth 2-0 Arsenal | Premier League |
| 03/05/2024 | Arsenal 3-0 Bournemouth | Premier League |
| 29/09/2023 | Bournemouth 0-4 Arsenal | Premier League |
Arsenal vs Bournemouth team news, Bukayo Saka injury update
Arsenal continue to have to contend with a plethora of injury issues. A number of their key players have missed matches recently and are still fighting to return to full fitness.
Bukayo Saka hasn’t been seen since the Carabao Cup final before the international break, and Arteta has been coy whenever asked about the winger’s availability. Fears over the Gunners’ talisman’s fitness status were exacerbated on Thursday when he wasn’t pictured in training.
Full-back duo Jurrien Timber and Piero Hincapie have also been absent since the international break, although there is reportedly hope that both players will make a return soon.
Aside from long-term absentee Mikel Merino, the majority of the rest of the Gunners’ squad should be fit to feature against Bournemouth. That said, Riccardo Calafiori and Martin Odegaard also weren’t spotted in Thursday’s training session, raising doubts over their potential involvement in the clash.
Arteta’s press conference on Friday should provide more clarity over a number of these players.
Meanwhile, Eberechi Eze returned to training this week after a calf injury kept him out of the previous three matches, and he could be in contention to feature on Saturday.
Arsenal vs Bournemouth Predicted line-up
Due to the extensive list of doubtful players, Arteta may not have many options from a team selection standpoint ahead of the encounter against Bournemouth.
David Raya will start in goal, while William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are shoo-ins at the heart of the Gunners’ defence. If Timber still isn’t fit, Ben White will retain his place at right-back, while there may be an opportunity for Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back, if Hincapie and Calafiori aren’t available. That said, it’s possible that the Italian’s absence from training was merely precautionary.
In midfield, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi will continue their partnership, and Odegaard will complete the trio if passed fit. If the Norwegian isn’t available and Eze isn’t ready, then either Kai Havertz or Max Dowman will likely start as the number ten.
However, Arteta may want to use Havertz as a striker in this game, and rest Viktor Gyokeres for the Sporting second leg. On the left, Gabriel Martinelli’s positive cameo in Lisbon should earn him a start over a misfiring Leandro Trossard. Noni Madueke will start on the right again if Saka isn’t an option.
Predicted Arsenal line-up vs Bournemouth: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Dowman; Madueke, Havertz, Martinelli.
Arsenal vs Bournemouth Prediction
Bournemouth are on an impressive unbeaten run, although this run has involved several draws for the Cherries. They’ve struggled to score the goals required to see teams off since losing Antoine Semenyo in January, although Iraola’s side are a compact outfit whose pressing makes it difficult for teams to play through them.
While this will be a difficult test for Arsenal, they have home advantage and the Cherries’ distinct mid-table underlying metrics indicate that the Gunners have little to worry about. Arteta’s outfit should have too much for their opponents, although it’ll certainly be tight.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Bournemouth
