Gunners aims to Put Premier League Rivals Under a Lot of Pressure.
This weekend, Mikel Arteta’s team has the opportunity to put more pressure on top rivals Manchester City and Liverpool as they get ready to go to AFC Bournemouth. As one of the unbeaten teams in the Premier League this year, Arsenal will want to secure their spot at the top of the table momentarily by taking all three points and making their opponents work for it.
The ambition of Bournemouth to turn around a run of dismal performances against Arsenal’s early momentum makes this matchup vital for both teams.
Arsenal has not experienced a loss in five Premier League games thus far this season. Before the international break, they prevailed 3-1 over Southampton, turning around a difficult match. With this win, they maintained their strong start and continued to compete for the championship.
Arsenal would rise to the top of the Premier League standings with a victory on Saturday—at least until their encounter against Manchester City later in the weekend. This game is important for Arteta’s team since it’s their first chance to establish their supremacy in a very competitive season, not only to keep up the pace.
But travelling to Bournemouth is not without its difficulties. The international break frequently throws teams off-kilter, and history shows that they have trouble getting back to their pre-break form. The Cherries will definitely put up a fight on their home ground, so Arsenal needs to be cautious not to get too comfortable.
The season hasn’t gone well for AFC Bournemouth thus far. After losing to newly promoted Leicester City 2-0, Gary O’Neil’s team is currently in the bottom part of the standings. Even with their difficulties, Bournemouth is still a team that can upset teams, especially at the Vitality Stadium where their supporters are renowned to create a hostile environment.
Tyler Adams’ health is the Cherries’ top concern as the midfielder’s return is still up in the air. Arsenal may find this to be a challenging match due to Bournemouth’s tactical discipline and home field advantage, particularly if the Cherries are able to take advantage of any lethargic play from their opponents following the international break.
Players to Keep an Eye on and Team Updates
Arsenal is concerned about a few injuries before this game. Thomas Partey is expected to play, although Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Jurrien Timber are still questionable. But Arteta is most concerned about Bukayo Saka’s health because he is still a vital member of the Gunners. Saka’s presence on the wing will surely provide Arsenal’s offence a cutting edge if he recovers in time.
Conversely, Bournemouth will probably take things slow when it comes to Tyler Adams. His midfield presence might be a game-changer for the Cherries as he provides forward-thinking defensive stability and inventiveness.
Arsenal is expected to defeat Bournemouth from predictions
Arsenal’s performance so far this season indicates they should be able to go past a struggling Bournemouth team, despite the possibility of a collapse during the international break. The Gunners’ offensive variety and potency will probably prove to be too much for the Cherries, who haven’t been able to sustain a consistent performance.
It should be a tough contest, but Arsenal should win 2-0 to further establish themselves as Premier League title candidates.
