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A reminder of what happened between these teams last time round. Arsenal beware, because only Fulham, with 20 points from 11 games, have taken more points against the top-six teams this season than Bournemouth’s 15 from ten. (The new champions Liverpool have taken 15 from eight, to put this achievement into some sort of perspective.)
Mikel Arteta speaks to Sky. “[Timber and Merino] are both unable to start the game … Jurriën out … let’s see how he evolves … the rest OK … we still have a lot to do in the Premier League … we have been working many months to be in the position we are … we cannot win it so be the best of the rest … we face [intense teams like Bournemouth] a lot of times in the Premier League … they can cause you problems but we are the same … they have been consistent … clear in their intentions … very impressive.”
Andoni Iraola talks to Sky Sports. “It’s true that now every result is important but when you play Arsenal away you forget about the standings … the game is going to be so difficult that you just have to focus … try to give them a good game … be able to get a result … it is a bad thing that we face their best XI … but it’s also a good thing because it means they respect you … they have to go all-in to get a result … we competed very well against Manchester United and hopefully we can do it against Arsenal too.”
Arsenal have put out a strong team this evening. Their opponents in Paris this coming Wednesday? Not so much. Of the 11 PSG players who started the first leg, only one has kept his shirt for today’s Ligue 1 match at Strasbourg: Joao Neves. Bradley Barcola and Warren Zaire Emery, subs at the Emirates with 21 minutes between them, both get a run-out, while Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue are on the bench. PSG are 2-0 down at the break, but with the league title long in the bag, and a first European crown within touching distance, they’re unlikely to be too fussed. You can keep tabs on that score in our match centre.
Jurriën Timber is indeed injured, but his omission today sounds precautionary rather than something more serious. Here’s the latest, hot off the press, courtesy of our man at the Emirates, David Hytner.
Jurrien Timber is nursing a minor knock – the one that forced him off in the first-leg of Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday – and so Mikel Arteta has left him of the squad for today’s visit of Bournemouth. In comes Ben White. But the Arsenal manager has made only one other change: Thomas Partey in, Mikel Merino down to the bench. Partey missed out against PSG because of suspension and he was missed. Arteta is plainly in the mood to ignite some momentum ahead of Wednesday’s second-leg in Paris.
Arsenal name a strong team, making just two changes to the starting XI after the 1-0 home loss to Paris Saint-Germain. Ben White and Thomas Partey are back, with Mikel Merino dropping to the bench, and Jurriën Timber missing out altogether. No word yet on why Timber is absent, but he was withdrawn as a precautionary measure towards the end of that Champions League semi-final after picking up a knock, so let’s see.
Bournemouth make three changes to their starting side after the 1-1 draw with Manchester United. Lewis Cook, Marcus Tavernier and Julián Araujo are in, with Alex Scott, Adam Smith and Antoine Semenyo dropping to the bench.
The teams
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard, Partey, Rice, Saka, Trossard, Martinelli.
Subs: Setford, Tierney, Zinchenko, Merino, Sterling, Butler-Oyedeji, Gower, Nwaneri, Clarke.
Bournemouth: Arrizabalaga, Araujo, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez, Cook, Adams, Tavernier, Kluivert, Ouattara, Evanilson.
Subs: Dennis, Senesi, Brooks, Scott, Smith, Soler, Jebbison, Hill, Semenyo.
Referee: Jarred Gillett (Australia).
Preamble
Arsenal have bigger fish to fry, with the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with PSG coming up next week. Then again, while the Premier League title might be done and dusted, it wouldn’t be the greatest look to somehow end up third or fourth in a two-horse race. And Bournemouth still have their sights set on European football next season, as well as the completion of their very first league double over the Gunners, having won 2-0 at Dean Court last October. So this isn’t without jeopardy. Could be a cracker. Kick-off is at 5.30pm BST. It’s on!
