Arsenal vs Bournemouth preview: Prediction, team news & lineups

There are just three Premier League games to go and Arsenal can put more points on the board before Manchester City kick-off this weekend as they face Bournemouth.

The Gunners welcome the Cherries to the Emirates for the Saturday lunchtime kick-off, with title rivals City hosting Wolves later in the day. The Cityzens matched Arsenal's victory in the North London Derby last weekend to ensure they remained just a point adrift of Mikel Arteta's men having also played a game fewer.

Arsenal have appeared rejuvenated following their annual April stutter, but only three wins from three will do if they're to have any chance of securing their first Premier League title in 20 years. And Saturday will be far from a cake walk.

Bournemouth are a far cry from the side that succumbed to a 4-0 battering at home in the reverse fixture. Andoni Iraola has since had tremendous success transferring his ideals onto the Bournemouth players, and only four teams have picked up more points in the league since the Cherries notched their first win of the season on Matchday 10.

They also head into Saturday's game with back-to-back victories under their belt as they aim to make a late charge for a European spot.

Here's our preview of Arsenal's tricky upcoming Premier League bout.

How to watch Arsenal vs Bournemouth on TV

• When is kick-off? Saturday 4 May
• What time is kick-off? 12:30 (GMT)
• Where is it played? Emirates Stadium
• TV channel/live stream? TNT Sports Ultimate, discovery+, TNT Sports 1, discovery+ App (UK) / UNIVERSO NOW, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, nbcsports.com, NBC Sports App, USA Network, UNIVERSO (US) / fuboTV (Canada)
• Referee? David Coote

Arsenal team news

Jurrien Timber is hopeful of returning to the matchday squad this weekend after playing twice for the club's U21s. The North London Derby was deemed a game too soon for the defender, who's been out of action since August with a torn ACL.

However, Timber won't be expected to start on Saturday if he does he come back into the squad.

Arteta could name an unchanged team from the previous two outings, with Leandro Trossard the most likely to drop out if the boss does make a change.

Bournemouth team news

Milos Kerkez serves the second of his three-game suspension after he was sent off in Bournemouth's 1-0 win over Wolves. Dango Ouattara will likely continue at left-back in his absence.

The Cherries will be without Romain Faivre, Ryan Fredericks, and Marcus Tavernier, while Ilya Zabarnyi and Chris Mepham are battling illness. Antoine Semenyo could miss out with a knee injury, as could Luis Sinisterra due to a hamstring issue.

Tyler Adams is a long-term absentee.

Arsenal vs Bournemouth predicted lineups

Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Trossard.

Bournemouth: Neto; Smith, Senesi, Kelly, Ouattara; Christie, Scott, Cook, Kluivert; Unal, Solanke.

Arsenal's recent form

Bournemouth's recent form

Arsenal vs Bournemouth score prediction

There's no doubting that this fixture has banana skin potential, but I'm not buying this being the toughest game left on Arsenal's schedule. The monster test arrives next week at Old Trafford.

Nevertheless, Bournemouth will pose a few problems for the Gunners on Saturday, with Iraola's pressing ideals coming to the fore to facilitate a distinct improvement in recent months. The Cherries are well-refined out of possession, blessed with direct attackers and a sharpshooter in Dominic Solanke.

However, Iraola's squad is currently thin due to several absences, and their record against the league's best doesn't make for pretty reading. Thus, a seasoned Arsenal should secure another three points on home soil to put further pressure on Man City.

Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Bournemouth

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