Bournemouth vs Arsenal – Match Preview

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It is fair to say that when looking at this particular fixture not many people could or would have imagined that it would be sixth playing host to fifth at the Vitality Stadium. However, this is just a measure of how well Bournemouth have performed this season.

The Cherries stint in the Premier League has been a slow and steady one with progress made year on year, something that has afforded themselves the luxury of being recognised as a truly established top flight club.

And it is that change in status that has allowed the South Coast outfit to believe that they can go on and continue their progress even further by earning themselves a spot in the Europa League next season.

Last season Burnley were the best of the rest as they finished in seventh, however Bournemouth will look to go one better than that and disrupt the party that the big six have each year. A prospect that should Manchester United’s poor form continue will increase in its likelihood.

That said Bournemouth have gone through something of a wobble themselves as of late, they have picked up just one point in their last three outings, one that came in a bore draw against local rivals Southampton last month.

They will look to rediscover their form this weekend when Arsenal come to town, that said though it may not be as simple as that when you consider that the Gunners have not lost a league game since August.

Since then it has been 10 league fixtures unbeaten as Unai Emery is creating an outfit that is almost impossible to get the better of. Although it must be said, that they did find themselves on the ropes in their last outing before the international break.

Last season’s EFL Championship winners Wolves made the visit to the Emirates and were minutes away from taking all three points back to the West Midlands, were it not for a late Henrikh Mkhitaryan equaliser that would have been precisely the case.

But even after Arsenal levelled with minutes remaining, Wolves still had chances to snatch a winner. A combination of the woodwork and the acrobatics of German goalkeeper Bernd Leno meant that Arsenal’s unbeaten run stayed intact.

However, it did come at some cost as their arch rivals Tottenham leapfrogged them in the race of fourth place. A few weeks ago, some were whispering that the Gunners could be bona fide title contenders.

But perhaps with that draw at home to Wolves coupled with the fact that they have the rigours of a Europa League campaign and then cycle of Thursday/Sunday football that it brings, a fight for fourth looks the most likely.

And with Tottenham at home to Chelsea it does offer Arsenal the ideal opportunity to leap back into the final Champions League paying position come the end of the weekend. That’s not to say that Bournemouth will be a pushover, but this edition of the Gunners is made of much more steel.

Two seasons ago at the Vitality Stadium this fixture saw a six-goal thriller played out as honours were even after a three all draw. There may not be as many goals this time around, and there will likely be a different outcome also as Arsenal come out on top.