🕟 Kick Off: 12:30 BST

📍 Location: Emirates Stadium, Islington, North London

📺 UK Broadcaster: TNT Sports

🙎🏻‍♂️ Referee: David Coote

🔴 Arsenal Team News:

• Jurrien Timber has returned to training following his ACL injury and has made two appearances for the Arsenal U21s. It is currently unknown if he is available for selection for the Mens team.

⚽ Arsenal Form: 🟩🟩🟩🟥🟥

🍒 Bournemouth Team News:

• Kerkez is serving a suspension after receiving a red card.
• Fredericks is out with a long term leg injury.
• Tavernier, Sinisterra, and Faivre all miss the game with thigh injuries.
• Adams is being assessed ahead of the game with a back injury.
• Zabarnyi is 50/50 with an illness.
• Mepham is out with a longer term illness.
• Semenyo will miss the game with a serious knee injury.

⚽ Bournemouth Form: 🟩🟩🟥🟧🟥

📖 Match Facts:

• Bournemouth’s last victory against Arsenal came in 2018. The Arsenal starting XI contained the likes of Mustafi, Cech, Holding, and Chambers. Steve Bould was on the touchline, filling in for Wenger who was ill at the time.
• Apart from the above, Bournemouth have never beaten us in the top division. They have managed 2 draws.
• Bournemouth managed a 3-0 win at Old Trafford in December, their only win against a Big 6 side this season.

🎲 Odds (Betway):

• Arsenal – 1/5
• Draw – 6/1
• Bournemouth – 12/1

✍🏼 Pre-Match Ramblings

Three to go. Win our last three matches and we have an outside chance of glory. It is very hard to take each game as it comes at the moment, it seems like winning is a chore that must be done, followed by the chore of watching City win effortlessly, only to repeat the process for the next game.

A win against this Bournemouth team at the Emirates last season was not something that came easily. I don’t need to remind anyone what happened and what Reiss Nelson did (humble brag, I was there – incredible vibes). You have to imagine that we will shrug them aside this time around, hot off the back of two London derby victories. But alas, we shouldn’t take anything for granted, and I feel quite silly for even writing that last sentence. I cannot forsee a loss here. It would be hilariously sad, (sadly hilarious?) to beat Chelsea and Spurs in the same week, only to go and lose at home to Bournemouth.

As long as we don’t give Bournemouth a goal within 30 seconds, I think we’ll be fine – especially given the huge list of absentees for the visiting South Coasters. One to watch who is not injured is Solanke, having scored 18 goals this season, with only 2 being penalties. Solanke will be the one who can get anything out of this game for Bournemouth, but I don’t think he’ll be problematic for our back two who have excelled against every attack they have faced this season (except Luton).

In terms of lineup predictions, I expect Partey to return to the bench. We all know his fitness record, and we will need him fit and ready for our visit to Old Trafford. Jorginho seems the obvious option to step in to the midfield to partner Rice. I would like to see Martinelli given a start. Trossard is an odd one, he looks a different player when he starts compared to when he gets subbed on.