3 talking points ahead of Arsenal vs Bournemouth

Arsenal host Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening as they look to get their form back on track on the domestic front.

The Gunners fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in their previous outing, the first leg of their Champions League semi-final. An early goal from Ousmane Dembele was enough to seal the win for the Parisians. Last time out in the league, Mikel Arteta's side were held to a 2-2 draw by Crystal Palace as shoddy defensive work allowed the visitors to steal a point in north London.

This weekend will see Arsenal not only look to build momentum before their all-important second leg clash at PSG, but also improve their domestic form amid a very mixed run of performances. There are three key talking points ahead of their meeting with Bournemouth.

1. A win is a must

The Premier League title is officially gone after Liverpool were crowned champions last weekend, but Arsenal still need to finish the season in strong fashion and as a result, they must be victorious in their matchup with Bournemouth.

A win is crucial to build momentum ahead of next week's huge second-leg clash with PSG, where the Gunners need to overturn a 1-0 deficit on aggregate if they are to make the final of the Champions League. A draw or loss to the Cherries will do the team's confidence absolutely no good heading into the biggest game of their careers.

Not only would a victory be a significant boost for team morale, it would also put Arsenal on course to securing a spot in Europe's elite competition next season. Three points for the Gunners would mean if Chelsea lose to Liverpool on Sunday, they are guaranteed of a top-five finish in the league. With the chances of making the UCL final now relatively slim, Arteta must ensure his side end the season with at least Champions League football secured for next year.

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