Mikel Arteta still seems to be holding out hope that Arsenal can win the Premier League title. “In my heart and in my soul… this is what I am hoping for, yes,” he said when asked if he thought Manchester City would drop points before the end of the season.
That will of course be immaterial if his Arsenal side can’t win all their matches. Many people have Bournemouth down as a banker, but the Cherries would be fifth if the league had started in November. Arteta is not getting too cocky.
“Bournemouth is even more important now we have momentum,” the Spaniard said. “We have to keep going, and they [the players] know what is at stake.”
It’s absolutely essential that Arteta gets his team selection spot on as a result. Here football.london takes a look at who he could pick for the match.
Raya can secure the Premier League golden glove this weekend. If he does, Arsenal will be well on their way to a crucial victory.
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There has been plenty of focus on Ben White after all his mastery of ‘the dark arts’. He could be crucial yet again at set pieces.
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Saliba was at his best once again when Arsenal beat Spurs last weekend. He’ll be hoping to keep that up for a strong end to the season.
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There’s another world where Gabriel was an inch further back on the pitch and played Micky van de Ven onside last week. We’re not in that one though, so the Brazilian can continue the momentum of another good performance.
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With Bournemouth’s pressing style you feel that Arteta will want the more technically secure players. That could swing Zinchenko’s way over Tomiyasu for this weekend.
Thomas Partey has been superb for Arsenal at just the right time of the season. That could see him keep his place this weekend.
Martin Odegaard is in absolutely superb form right now. He has a great record of three goals and one assist in three appearances against Bournemouth, and will want to keep that up.
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Rice came second in the Football Writers Association awards this season for Player of the Year. He’ll want to prove he should have won the top spot with a superb display against Bournemouth.
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Saka keeps scoring in North London Derbies, and his record against Bournemouth is pretty good too. He tends to turn up at this stage of the season for Arsenal.
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Kai Havertz put in a true centre-forward’s performance against Spurs. How can you move him from the No.9 spot right now?
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Leandro Trossard was not exactly at his best against Spurs and Gabriel Martinelli wasn’t much better off the bench. Gabriel Jesus could be the man to come in to start on the left.
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