Mikel Arteta is set to make several changes to his Arsenal lineup as they face Bournemouth in the Premier League this evening, with attention starting to shift towards next week’s crucial Champions League semi-final.
Arsenal’s European campaign remains their primary focus after a tough 1-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at the Emirates on Tuesday. The Gunners are preparing for the second leg in Paris next week, and with a handful of key players sidelined, Arteta has limited options available for selection.
With Gabriel Magalhães, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Takehiro Tomiyasu out for the season, alongside Riccardo Calafiori and Jorginho still unavailable, Arteta is likely to rotate his squad, carefully managing player fitness.
Ethan Nwaneri, Raheem Sterling, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Kieran Tierney will all be pushing for starting positions against the Cherries. Ben White, who returned off the bench in the PSG defeat, could also feature in the lineup.
Bukayo Saka, who made his return in early April after a three-month injury layoff, could be rested for this game, with Arteta also considering whether to give Martin Ødegaard some time off. However, with the battle for Champions League qualification heating up, Arsenal can’t afford to risk dropping points after recent slip-ups against Crystal Palace and Brentford.
Thomas Partey, who missed the PSG defeat, is expected to return for the second leg in Paris and could feature this weekend, although Arteta faces a dilemma over how much to play him before the crucial European clash.
The Gunners are still holding onto second place, but Manchester City is closing in, just three points behind with a game in hand following their recent win over Wolves.
How Arsenal could line up this weekend…
Despite a priority on Europe, Arteta will need to ensure Arsenal keeps up their momentum in the Premier League. A win against Bournemouth is vital, especially after recent results.
Predicted Arsenal XI against Bournemouth:
Raya, White, Saliba, Kiwior, Tierney, Zinchenko, Rice, Merino, Nwaneri, Trossard, Sterling
Where to watch Arsenal vs Bournemouth:
The match kicks off at 5pm on Saturday, May 3, and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. Live streaming is available for Sky Go and NOW TV subscribers.