Arsenal vs Bournemouth – Match preview and team news

The Football Faithful

·3 Mei 2025

Arsenal vs Bournemouth – Match preview and team news

Arsenal entertain Bournemouth this evening in their penultimate home match of the Premier League campaign.

In midweek the Gunners narrowly lost to Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final. With the second leg in the French capital only four days away, manager Mikel Arteta is expected to rotate his starting line-up.

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The likes of Kieran Tierney, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Raheem Sterling could be handed a rare start. Thomas Partey will be available again after missing Tuesday night’s game with to a suspension. Italian duo Riccardo Calafiori and Jorginho remain out alongside long-term absentees Gabriel Magalhaes, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

Bournemouth’s European hopes are still alive despite conceding a last-minute equaliser to Manchester United last weekend.

Record signing Evanilson was sent off in that match, but an appeal to overturn the Brazilian’s three-match ban has been successful. The striker slipped before tackling Noussair Mazraoui, which made the challenge appear more dangerous than at first glance.

Scottish midfielder Ryan Christie’s season has been prematurely ended by necessary groin surgery. It is also unlikely that both Luis Sinisterra and Enes Unal will feature again this campaign.

Arsenal vs Bournemouth – Match preview and team news

Form

Arsenal: DWWDL

It was frustrating night in north London for Arsenal as they fell to a slender defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The Gunners failed to respond to Ousmane Dembele’s first-half strike which leaves them with a deficit to overcome in the second leg of the European semi-final.

With just four games left to play in the Premier League this term, Arsenal sit second in the table but have not yet season a top five finish. Manchester City’s victory over Wolves on Friday night took the reigning champions within three points of Mikel Arteta’s side.

The North Londoners need five points from four matches to secure Champions League qualification. However, they still need to face Premier League winners Liverpool at Anfield and fellow contenders Newcastle United.

Read – Arsenal predicted lineup and team news vs Bournemouth

Bournemouth: LDWDD

Bournemouth will feel they suffered an injustice last Sunday as controversial circumstances meant they were denied a victory in the dying embers.

The Cherries were in control of their home match against Manchester United courtesy of Antoine Semenyo’s first-half strike. But Evanilson’s 70th minute red card, which has since been overturned, completely changed the contest. Rasmus Hojlund’s equaliser in the sixth minute of stoppage-time broke Bournemouth hearts.

That slice of misfortune only compounded Andoni Iraola’s recent problems. The Spaniard has struggled to arrest a slide in form which has seen his side collect just one win in their last 11 matches.

With a tough schedule on the horizon, Bournemouth’s hopes of a maiden European campaign are hanging in the balance.

Last Meeting: Bournemouth 2-0 Arsenal, Premier League, 19th October 2024

William Saliba’s first-half dismissal aided Bournemouth’s dismantling of Arsenal back in October.

On the half hour mark, the French international impeded Evanilson just inside the visitors’ half. A rigorous VAR check concluded that the striker would have reached the loose ball ahead of the defender and potentially have a clear opening to test David Raya. Saliba received the severe punishment for denial of a goal scoring opportunity.

A worrying trend was developing amongst the Gunners squad regarding their disciplinary record. It was the third time in just nine games that an Arsenal player was given their marching orders, following Declan Rice’s red card against Brighton and Leandro Trossard’s sending off against Manchester City.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Mikel Arteta’s side still troubled the opposition. Mikel Merino’s drilled effort whistled just past the post following Milos Kerkez’s poor headed clearance.

In the second half, Antonie Semenyo blazed over before Gabriel Martinelli spurned a glorious chance by tamely curling the ball within Kepa Arrizabalaga’s reach.

Bournemouth eventually capitalised on their fatigued opposition to break the deadlock. A meticulously rehearsed corner routine saw Justin Kluivert deftly flick the ball into Ryan Christie’s path, who emphatically lashed a finish into the top corner.

Another error from an Arsenal defender presented the hosts with the opportunity to put the game beyond doubt.

Jakub Kiwior’s pass towards his goalkeeper didn’t have the required weight and was pounced on by Evanilson. In a desperate attempt to thwart the Brazilian, Raya brought the striker to the floor and a penalty was awarded.

Kluivert confidently slotted the spot-kick home to secure the three points with just over 10 minutes remaining.

The Cherries handed Arsenal their first loss on the road of the calendar year and claimed their first clean sheet of the campaign in the process.

Read – Arteta says Liverpool title win hurt ‘big time in my tummy’

What time is kick-off?

Kick-off at the Emirates Stadium will be at 17:30 BST on Saturday, 3rd May 2025.

Who is the referee?

Jarred Gillett will be the match official. Richard West and Steve Meredith will assist him while Tom Nield will be the fourth official. Michael Salisbury is on VAR duty while Derek Eaton will assist him.