•Mikel Arteta has spent this week training his squad to expect the physical and to take on Bournemouth’s tough forward strike partnership of Solanke and Unai who will be backed up by Kluivert, Scott, Cook and Semenyo.
•Arsenal’s defenders, Ben White, Saliber, Gabriel and Tomiyasu will play rehearsed physical aggressive football and they should contain Bournemouth just as they did last weekend against Tottenham’s Sonny, Maddison, Kulusevski and Werner.
Image: XINHUA
Arsenal v Bournemouth
I can’t believe this very game last season had the Gunners' fans believing they could win the title.
They came from 2-0 down to grab a 3-2 victory. This season some of Bournemouth’s most impressive displays have been away from home. Andoni Iraola’s team play a high-pressing game and mixes man-to-man marking with energetic and aggressive moves forward.
Mikel Arteta has spent this week training his squad to expect the physical and to take on Bournemouth’s tough forward strike partnership of Solanke and Unai who will be backed up by Kluivert, Scott, Cook and Semenyo.
However, Arsenal’s defenders, Ben White, Saliber, Gabriel and Tomiyasu will play rehearsed physical aggressive football and they should contain Bournemouth just as they did last weekend against Tottenham’s Sonny, Maddison, Kulusevski and Werner.
Mikel Arteta has finally got what he planned for all season: The sheer brilliant creativity of captain Martin Odegaard, the robustness of Declan Rice and the durability making up the threesome of Thomas Partey who is back to his brilliant form. The midfield is simply one of the best in Europe.
The good news for Gunner’s supporters is Jurrien Timber’s hope that he can make a comeback at some stage in the match.
The defender has been out since he injured a knee on the opening day of the season but he played twice for the Under-21s last week. Timber, who signed from Ajax last season for £38.5 million, played 45 minutes against Blackburn and 70- minutes against Liverpool and he has recovered well. He can play anywhere across the back four.
It is worth reminding ourselves that Arsenal won 4-0 at Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium earlier this season so they know how to beat the Cherries.
Liverpool v Tottenham
Liverpool return to action when they host Spurs on Sunday afternoon which leaves Jurgen Klopp just one remaining home match in charge at Anfield. The Reds have two more games after this and the campaign ends by entertaining Wolves on May 19.
They could still reach 84 goals this season which would be their fifth highest since the Premier League was formed. A frustrating April saw the end of their title dreams. Following last weekend’s 2-2 draw with West Ham, the players were given three days off from training.
Andy Robertson and Harvey Elliot were in the medical room when the players returned on Wednesday morning. Both players were injured during the Hammers game at the London Stadium.
Robertson in particular was desperate to avoid injury following his shoulder problem last October which meant a lengthy layoff. Thiago Alcantara, Joel Matip, Diogo Jota, Ben Doak and Conor Bradley are all still injured and Robertson and Elliott were being assessed on Friday.
All indications are that Mo Salah is ready to play his part against Spurs following his argument with Jurgen Klopp last week at West Ham.
Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo will be ready and either Salah or Elliot will start. Liverpool are strong at the back and Robertson (if fit), Van Dijk, Quanash and Alexander-Arnold will face Son Heung-Min, Kulusevski, Maddison and Werner.
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou said this week that his team needs more strengthening during the summer break and has again said that Spurs are in an improving transition period and will be stronger next season.
They are seven points behind Aston Villa with an inferior goal difference which makes Champions League football almost impossible next year given that the Premier League will probably not secure the extra fifth place being granted to the best-performing European clubs.
Manchester City v Wolves
Wolves boss Gary O’Neil is delighted to have Hwang-Hee-Chan and Matheus Cunha in the starting lineup again.
The head coach also revealed that Pedro Neto is nearing his comeback with three games to go this season but he won’t make the match against City.
O’Neil said, “It’s amazing the difference having a couple of attackers available. We’ve not been able to name Cunha and Channy in the same starting eleven since December 30th.
We have worked hard to improve the depth and rotation of the squad and this has worked and not many of our players have been involved in more than 30 games this season.
Both Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland have pledged to be at City next season and the striker hopes he will work with the coach for “many years to come.” Guardiola has a contract until 2025 but has hinted that he might stay longer.