Odegaard had an outstanding game against Bournemouth
Bournemouth visit the Emirates Stadium at the worst possible time for the Cherries, as they are currently languishing in the relegation spots and are overwhelming favorites to lose today’s game. Following Arsenal’s comfortable win against Everton, the Gunners are five points clear at the top of the Premier League table, but Manchester City plays Newcastle in the lunch time fixture, and the potential exists for the gap to be cut to two points before Mikel Arteta’s men take to the pitch. Newcastle will still be licking their wounds from the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester United, and you’d expect a hangover performance from them today.
Arsenal has enjoyed a very good record against Bournemouth, with the Gunners smashing five past them in the previous home encounter in the 2018/19 season. Bournemouth’s record at the Emirates is so bad, that they have failed to even pick a draw in their six visits to the Arsenal stadium – all defeats, with an aggregate scoreline of 17-2. Despite spending £75 million on attacking and defensive talent post-World Cup, Bournemouth still remains in the trenches of relegation, and they seem destined for the drop unless their fortunes change soon.
To team news, Arteta has provided updates on the fitness status of Jorginho, Eddie Nketiah and most importantly, Gabriel Jesus,
“I don’t want to give a timeline but he’s doing certain things with the team and certain things outside the team. He’s not very close but he’s not far at all. He’s feeling better every day and the doctors are confident with the way the injury is evolving.
“We need to see when he’s back what level he is, how we’re going to fit him in and how we’re going to load him with minutes and in which games. Like everybody else, he’ll have to earn his place but we know what Gaby can give to the team.
The gaffer confirmed that Jorginho is fit after his bout of illness, while Nketiah is on the 50/50 mark following his knock, meaning that Thomas Partey should be in line to start the game, with Jorginho featuring against Sporting Lisbon on Thursday, and Leandro Trossard would be in line for his third straight start as a center forward. We know that Trossard presence spearheading the attack has been hugely beneficial to Gabriel Martinelli, and we can only hope the great form, especially in front of goal, continues.
Bournemouth on the other hand, are riddled with injuries, with as much as seven players currently on the treatment table. The club’s form is quite shocking, with just one win against fellow strugglers, Wolves, in their last 11 games. They have also suffered eight defeats in this same run. Following their last home defeat to Manchester City, Bournemouth are currently in 19th place, but the margins at the bottom are so low, with 17th placed Leeds just a solitary point ahead of the Cherries.
Arsenal are favorites to win the game and the fans will expect no less from their heroes that managed to come out of that slump in February to win three Premier League games on the trot. Arteta hardly shuffles his pack, and I expect to see a very similar lineup from the team that sent Everton to the cleaners, with Partey drafted back into the side after his injury struggles.
Arsenal vs Bournemouth Predicted Lineups
Arsenal: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard; Martinelli, Trossard, Saka.
Bournemouth: Neto; Smith, Mepham, Senesi, Stephens, Zemura; Ouattara, Billing, Lerma, Traore; Solanke
Injury / Suspension Updates
Arsenal: Mohamed Elneny (knee), Gabriel Jesus (knee), Eddie Nketiah (knock)
Bournemouth: Lloyd Kelly (calf), Matias Vina (knee), Illya Zabarniyi (ankle), Marcus Tavanier (hamstring), Junior Stanislas (knock), David Brooks (hamstring)
Form Guide
Arsenal Form
- Last Five Games: D L W W W
- Last Result: Arsenal 4-0 Everton (Saka 40?, Martinelli 46?, 80?, Odegaard 71?)
- Leading Goalscorer: Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli (11)
Bournemouth Form
- Last Five Games: D L D W L
- Last Result: Bournemouth 1-4 Manchester City (Lerma 83? | Alvarez 15′, Haaland 29′, Foden 45′, Mepham OG 51′)
- Leading Goalscorer: Jadon Anthony, Dominic Solanke, Philip Billing, Kieffer Moore (4)
Gooner Daily predicts a 3 – 0 victory.
Kick Off – 4.00pm (GMT +1) at Emirates Stadium.
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