Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
Date: 27/02/2019
K/O: 19.45
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
With the well-knit narrative, the Gunners host Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night. Opponents Bournemouth have gone three games without winning after their famous 4-0 win over Chelsea and threw away two points after drawing 1-1 with Wolves.
Arsenal are a point clear of injury-hit Manchester United going into Wednesday’s fixtures, and three ahead of sixth-place Chelsea; While United travel to Palace, Chelsea host London rivals Tottenham.
The Cherries are also on a dismal run away from home, losing eight games in a row on the road – a run that stretches back to October.
Arsenal: Form and Stats
Arsenal have not necessarily always faced top opposition during their recent schedule, but this is a team who have had to deal with several injuries in defence: Emery has done terrifically to keep his team in the hunt to feature in the Champions League during the next campaign.
The North London outfit now only find themselves seven points adrift of fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur – a team who have been receiving widespread plaudits – but prevailing on Wednesday and in the derby on Saturday will close the gap even further.
There is little doubt that Arsenal are going to have to improve away from home to challenge Spurs, but 35 points have come from their last 13 home outings and it is a run which matches each of Liverpool and Manchester City.
The Gunners are back in the top four after beating Southampton on Sunday, and now they want to keep that spot and hold off Manchester United and Chelsea. And this game is huge for them if they want to stay in the top four.
Following this game, the Gunners go to rival Tottenham and then host Manchester United. There’s a real chance here to build a cushion with some consistent results, especially against United. After those two games, the Gunners then go to Wolves. A tricky schedule awaits.
AFC Bournemouth: Form and Stats
Bournemouth are no longer a relegation-threatened side, it’s about seeing how high they can finish for a second season running. The club is just six points behind seventh place, and finishing in the top half would be a successful campaign; they’ve done it despite defensive concerns. Only three clubs have conceded more than Bournemouth’s 48 goals, but they have managed to grind out results under Eddie Howe time and time again.
There have been times where Bournemouth have been unplayable – Chelsea have first-hand experience of that – but that success was followed by a 2-0 defeat at Cardiff City and it further highlighted the lack of consistency from a talented squad.
Bournemouth took a step in the right direction with a hard-earned point against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend, although they created the better of the chances and had the rub of the green with a few decisions from the referee.
Howe will be aware that his side need to develop a killer instinct on a more regular basis to reach the heights which he will believe are realistic, and back-to-back clashes with Arsenal and Manchester City are ideal games to demand more from his team.
Key Men
Lucas Torreira – Arsenal
A CDM chosen as a key man in a game expected to be free-flowing. Between two of the smoothest passing sides in the league. This speaks volumes as to the growing influence of Arsenal’s Uruguayan midfielder Lucas Torriera.
Unlike some of the colossal defensive midfielders of Arsenal’s past, the 5ft 5 combative midfielder fits the mould of the somewhat smaller yet energetic and intelligent holding player in the middle.
Whilst still possessing the tenacity and doggedness required from a deep-lying defensive player, Torreira’s low centre of gravity allows him to quickly navigate around the pitch to help snuff out and intercept any danger.
Tenacity and doggedness are two words that are rarely associated with Arsenal, but Torreira possesses both these qualities in abundance. An integral part of Emery and Arsenal’s future, expect Torreria to be the grit in the Arsenal slick this Wednesday.
Josh King – AFC Bournemouth
The Norwegian has stepped up in Wilson’s absence with vigour and class. He is now the third-highest-scoring Norwegian in Premier League history with 39 goals, only Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (91) and Steffen Iversen (40) have netted more. King is also only the second Cherries player to score in three top-flight home games in a row, after Junior Stanislas in October 2018.
Last time out, the 27-year-old was a handful for the Wolves backline all game. His partnership with Solanke and Fraser the key asset for a free-flowing Bournemouth attack
After having scored one, King missed a crucial 85th-minute penalty as Bournemouth were forced to settle for a point against in-form Wolves in a contentious game containing three spot-kicks.
Arsenal v Bournemouth | Stats
- Arsenal have won all four of their home meetings with Bournemouth in all competitions by an aggregate score of 11-1.
- Bournemouth have won just one of their eight meetings in all competitions with Arsenal (D1 L6), beating them 2-1 at the Vitality Stadium last season.
- Only Manchester City (39) have won more home Premier League points this season than Arsenal (35 – W11 D2 L1)
- Bournemouth have lost each of their last eight away Premier League games, conceding at least two goals each time. The only sides to lose more on the road in a row while conceding at least twice in the competition are Wimbledon (10 between December 1999-May 2000) and Ipswich (11 between January 1995-September 2000).
- English managers have collected just one point in their last 16 Premier League visits to the Emirates against Arsenal (P16 W0 D1 L15) since Garry Monk led Swansea City to a 1-0 win in May 2015.
- Bournemouth haven’t lost nine consecutive away league matches since losing 12 in a row between December 1933 and August 1934 in the Third Division South.
Head to Head
In their last five fixtures, Gunners have been the better side with three wins, two draws and one defeat.
The two sides met earlier in the season on the November 25th, 2018 where the Gunners prevailed.
Team News:
Emery should be able to count on Stephan Lichtsteiner and Alex Iwobi for the game on Wednesday despite the pair limping off in the win over Southampton.
Laurent Koscielny, Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding and Danny Welbeck are all out for the hosts.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will hope to return to the starting line-up after being named as a substitute on Sunday. Alexandre Lacazette could link up with the Gabonese international in attack after scoring the opening goal of the game against the Saints.
David Brooks, Callum Wilson, Simon Francis and Lewis Cook remain sidelined for the Cherries.
Howe’s side have been slightly troubled with injuries, but their most notable absence this midweek would be Jefferson Lerma. The Colombian midfielder won’t be available even on the bench since he picked up a suspension.
Lerma’s absence means that Bournemouth will start Andrew Surman in that central midfield role. Dominic Solanke is also unlikely to start but could be an option from the bench.
Predicted Starting XIs
Arsenal (4-3-3): Leno; Maitland-Niles, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Torreira, Guendouzi; Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Lacazette, Aubameyang
Bournemouth (4-5-1): Boruc; Clyne, Mepham, Ake, Rico; Ibe, Gosling, Surman, Fraser; King; Mousset
Prediction: Arsenal 2 Bournemouth 1
Bournemouth will relish the chance to attack an Arsenal backline which has not always looked strong this season, but the Gunners have impressed in front of their own supporters during the current campaign and we expect a comfortable home win.
Arsenal are notoriously good in finishing such teams off. With Bournemouth’s injuries, can only see an Arsenal win. This would be another great result in the top-four race.
