Arsenal vs Bournemouth: Preview, prediction, team news and lineups

FanSided World Football

·2 May 2025

Arsenal vs Bournemouth: Preview, prediction, team news and lineups

Arsenal have won all eight home games against Bournemouth in their history, scoring 23 goals in these matches, although the Cherries did win the reverse fixture in October.

After a bitterly disappointing and anti-climactic defeat in mid-week, how on earth do Arsenal players and supporters alike raise themselves for this one?

OneFootball Videos

On Tuesday, in the club's first Champions League semi-final for 16 years, the Gunners were beaten 1-0 by Paris Saint-Germain at home, the night's only goal coming inside four minutes. Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and others had opportunities to equalise, but they could not do so, leaving Mikel Arteta's team with a mountain to climb in Paris.

Arsenal vs Bournemouth preview

So, with that trip to Parc des Princes to come on Wednesday, what to make of this game? Liverpool were officially crowned champions last Sunday, but the title race was over long ago, with Arsenal winning just three of their last nine Premier League outings.

They do remain second, but are far from guaranteed to stay there, with Liverpool (A), Newcastle (H) and Southampton (A) their remaining fixtures after this one.

As for Bournemouth, given the circumstances, they'll fancy their chances of a victory in North London that would massively enhance their European aspirations. Last weekend, the Cherries' top eight hopes suffered a serious set-back, 1-0 up against Manchester United at Dean Court, Antoine Semenyo the scorer, only to concede a 96th minute equaliser. Evanilson's red card with 20 minutes remaining a key moment in the match, but the ban caused by it has subsequently been rescinded.

That's now three draws in four matches for Andoni Iraola's team, who've won just one of their last nine, losing form at the most important time of the campaign. Bournemouth therefore start the day tenth, one point adrift Fulham, the current occupants of eighth, which is the final potential European position.

After this, the Cherries face Aston Villa, Manchester City and Leicester, meaning every point could be precious, so can they beat Arsenal away from home for the first time ever?

Arsenal vs Bournemouth head-to-head record

Matches Played: 17.

Arsenal team news

With Wednesday's trip to Paris in mind, and little to play for in the Premier League, Mikel Arteta will surely rotate. Having sat out Tuesday's first leg suspended, Thomas Partey can return to midfield; he was a huge miss against PSG. Elsewhere, Kieran Tierney, Benjamin White, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Ethan Nwaneri and Raheem Sterling could be rotated in, but Arteta does have limited options.

That's because Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Jorginho, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus all remain sidelined. Lastly, in goal, David Raya will start a 45th successive Premier League match, guaranteed to do so given that his understudy Neto is ineligible.

Arsenal predicted lineup vs Bournemouth: (4-2-3-1): Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Tierney; Partey, Rice, Merino, Zinchenko; Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard.

Arsenal player to watch vs Bournemouth

Leandro Trossard did not particularly impress up front against PSG, but the Belgian does have ten goals to his name this season, while he was on target when Bournemouth last visited 12 months ago.

Bournemouth team news

As alluded to earlier, Evanilson is available, after his red card suspension was rescinded, but Ryan Christie, Luis Sinisterra and Enes Ünal all remain injured. Andoni Iraola could bring Lewis Cook back into midfield, displacing Alex Scott.

Meanwhile, Ilya Zabarnyi is once again set to be chosen as Dean Huijsen's centre-back partner, getting the nod over Marcos Senesi. Lastly, right-back Julián Araujo hasn't started since October due to a hamstring injury, hoping to see some action here.

Bournemouth player to watch vs Arsenal

Justin Kluivert has scored 13 goals this season, one of which came when Bournemouth beat ten-man Arsenal 2-0 in October, so can the Dutchman fire the Cherries to a victory here too?

Arsenal vs Bournemouth prediction

Similar to Arsenal's clash with Brentford in-between the two Real Madrid legs, we're forecasting a rather low-key, low-scoring draw that doesn't really satisfy anyone: Arsenal 1-1 Bournemouth.