Arsenal vs Bournemouth – Preview, Predictions and Best Bets

The Gunners are nine points clear in the league table. The Cherries are unbeaten in 11 EPL matches with five straight draws.

Arsenal Form

Arsenal are favourites to lift the title and sit nine points clear of Man City. They were in with a shot of the quadruple between losing 2-0 to Man City in the Carabao Cup final and then 2-1 at Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals. In midweek, they put one foot in the Champions League semi-finals with a 1-0 win away to Sporting Lisbon.

Before that, the Gunners were unbeaten in 14 matches with 11 wins and three draws. Three straight league wins were followed by a 2-1 win at Mansfield in the FA Cup. They drew 1-1 away at Bayer Leverkusen before beating Everton 2-0 with two late goals. A 2-0 home win over Leverkusen sealed passage to the UCL quarter-finals.

Arsenal Team News

Mikel Arteta is without Mikel Merino in midfield. Piero Hincapie and Jurrien Timber need late fitness tests in defence.

Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze look set to miss this match. Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli may return to the XI after combining for the winning goal in midweek.

Arsenal Motivation

The Gunners need a win here. They won’t care about the margin or even the style of play, as long as they grind out another victory towards the league title.

The second leg vs Sporting in midweek won’t prove a distraction as they hold a 1-0 lead. All focus is on winning this league match.

Bournemouth Form

The Cherries are currently unbeaten in 11 league matches and they have drawn five fixtures on the bounce. After a 2-1 win at Everton made it three wins in four matches, they drew 0-0 at West Ham with 3.27 xG conceded. A 1-1 home draw vs Sunderland saw Bournemouth outshot their opponents 21-8.

After a 0-0 home draw against Brentford, they drew 0-0 at Burnley with 22 shots produced in a strong display. Their last match was three weeks ago as they came from behind to draw 2-2 at home to Man Utd. They put up 1.80 xG and 16 shots in an enterprising display.

Bournemouth Team News

Attacking midfielder Justin Kluivert is out with a long-term injury. Lewis Cook is nearing a return from a hamstring complaint and Tyler Adams may also be back in midfield.

Julio Soler is ruled out of this one but Junior Kroupi is fit and could return to the starting XI. Ben Doak is also available again after multiple injury problems this season.

Bournemouth Motivation

Andoni Iraola’s side have nothing to lose here and will attack. They will take the game to Arsenal and look to revel in any space afforded to them.

A draw would be a good result on the road. However, they will play to win and try to end their streak of stalemates.

Key Stats

• Arsenal have won 12 of their last 17 matches (3 draws, 2 losses)
• Arsenal have scored 17 goals in their last 7 matches vs Bournemouth
• Arsenal’s Kai Havertz has scored 2 goals in his last 3 matches for club & country
• Bournemouth are unbeaten in 11 league matches (4 wins, 7 draws)
• Bournemouth have drawn their last 5 matches (failed to score in 3 of those)

Verdict

Arsenal should win an entertaining match. I see both teams scoring here.

Best Bet: Arsenal win and both teams to score at 2.85

Goalscorer Tip: Kai Havertz to score anytime at 2.85