Arsenal are poised to defend their top spot in the Premier League as they prepare to take on Bournemouth this weekend, offering a chance to momentarily increase their lead over Manchester City to four points.
With the Gunners perched at the summit, albeit with a single-point advantage over the reigning champions, Mikel Arteta's side faces mounting pressure to maintain their position, especially considering their slightly more congested fixture schedule compared to their title rivals.
Following setbacks against Aston Villa and Bayern Munich, Arsenal has stepped up, notably securing a crucial three points in the recent north London derby.
On the other side, Bournemouth have their minds set on a top-half finish, buoyed by their record-breaking Premier League points tally of 48.
Kick-off Date, Time and Venue
The match is set to kick off at 12:30 pm BST on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the Emirates Stadium in London
Team News
Arsenal may welcome back Jurrien Timber from a huge knee injury, providing a potential boost to their backline.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo is undergoing scans for a troubling knee injury, casting doubt on his availability for the upcoming clash.
Illia Zabarnyi could return from illness for Bournemouth, but Milos Kerkez is suspended, and several key players, including Tyler Adams and Romain Faivre, remain sidelined.
Head-to-head History
When it comes to head-to-head encounters, Arsenal boasts a dominant record against Bournemouth, with 20 wins compared to the Cherries' solitary victory, along with two draws.
Potential Starting XI
Raya
White, Saliba, Gabriel and Zinchenko
Partey, Odegaard and Rice
Saka, Havertz and Martinelli.