Arsenal maintain perfect home record against Bournemouth, but Man City still loom large
Arsenal claimed a 3-0 win over Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium over the weekend as the Gunners maintained their 100% record against the Cherries on home soil.
Mikel Arteta’s side took the lead in the 41st minute after piercing through Bournemouth’s fierce press. Captain Martin Odegaard orchestrated proceedings and threaded a delightful pass for Kai Havertz.
Mark Travers, in the Bournemouth goal, came out to smother the German and brought him down, and Arsenal received a penalty. Bukayo Saka stepped up and converted the spot-kick with defiant nonchalance.
The goal was Saka’s 20th of the season (15th in the Premier League), becoming the first player to score 20 goals for Arsenal in all competitions since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the 2019/20 campaign (29 goals).
The Emirates crowd roared their approval for the exciting brand of football on display.
Sold-out Arsenal tickets are a hot commodity these days but they’re available at seatsnet.com for fans looking to attend the Gunners’ remaining fixtures.
Arsenal fought for their second goal, and it came in the 70th minute as midfield colossus Declan Rice stormed into the Bournemouth box and set the ball up for Leandro Trossard.
The Belgian took aim and found the back of the net to double his side’s lead, but the Gunners did not relent as they sought another goal to tie the victory with a neat little bow.
West Ham United boss David Moyes labelled Rice the best midfielder in the PL this weekend. The England international proved his former manager right with a late strike following another stellar performance in the centre of the park.
The former Hammer has bagged three assists and a goal in his last three appearances for the club, putting the seal on another excellent performance from Arteta’s side.
Arsenal (3.65xG) quelled what little threat Bournemouth carried, holding the Cherries to an xG of just 0.62.
It was enough for the Gunners to claim their fourth win on the spin and keep the pressure on Manchester City as the PL title race goes down to the wire.
Manchester City loom large
In another universe, Arsenal’s 14 wins in their 16 Premier League matches in 2024 put some distance between them and City, but we live in a different reality. City have matched Arsenal stride for stride.
Pep Guardiola’s side have not won three titles on the spin by wilting away in the run-in. On the contrary, they have built a reputation for blitzing their rivals in this part of the season.
Liverpool have dreadful memories of their PL title races with City. Most recently, in the 2021/22 season, the Reds (92 points) recorded fewer losses than City but still lost the title to the Cityzens (93) after a tight battle to the finish line.
Liverpool thought they could pip City to the title on the final day, but the determined Cityzens refused to bow out and came back from two goals down to defeat Aston Villa, clinching a memorable title.
In the 2018/19 season, Liverpool lost only one of 38 games, reaching 97 points, but still couldn’t get their hand on the title. Their tally of 97 points would have been enough for them to win any league title in English football history except two.
City are the most formidable foes, and Arsenal have their work cut out for them as they race to the finish line.
The Gunners could be made to rue their 2-0 home defeat to Villa on April 14, which gave City the advantage in the fight. They have 82 points compared to Arsenal’s 83 but have a game in hand.
City can overtake Arsenal in the title race if they win their games against Fulham (Saturday) and Tottenham Hotspur (Tuesday).
The Gunners will be hoping their London rivals can do them a favour in the search for their first PL title in 20 years.
A perfect run from Arsenal in their remaining two games from now till the end of the season may not be enough to bring home that elusive 14th league title if City claim all available points in their three matches.
Arsenal’s remaining fixtures
Next up for Arsenal is a trip to Old Trafford this weekend. The North Londoners claimed a 3-1 win against Manchester United in the reverse fixture.
The Gunners head into the game riding high on confidence against a United team devoid of it.
The Red Devils took a 4-0 battering in their latest match against Crystal Palace. Oliver Glasner’s men outfought, outworked, and outplayed a United side that never had their wits about them from minute one.
United have leaked chances all season and conceded 18 shots against Palace, who never took their foot off their opponent’s neck.
Arsenal’s form over the past 16 games and United’s run of one win in their last seven make the former overwhelming favourites to come out on top.
After the Manchester trip, Arsenal face an Everton side that has already secured their PL safety against all odds. The Toffees secured their top-flight status for another season with four wins in their last seven matches (W4, D2, L1).
Arsenal had opened the season with a 1-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park and will be desperate to avoid any slip-ups at home. They cannot afford it, with City threatening to pull clear at the summit.
Arteta will be wary of his poor record against Everton manager Sean Dyche. The Spaniard has only two wins against Dyche in eight games. They have drawn three games, with Arteta losing three times.
Arsenal can give themselves the best chance of winning this title by winning their remaining two games while hoping City slip up.
City’s remaining fixtures
City come up against three London sides in their remaining three games, the first of which is a visit to Craven Cottage this weekend.
Fulham have only one win in their last six games while City have been perfect in that run.
Fulham’s record against City makes for grim reading for Arsenal fans. The Cottagers have not won a game against City since 2009.
City have recorded 12 successive PL wins over Fulham. The last time they shared points in a league game was in 2011.
Arsenal will be more attentive to City’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur in London. City usually struggle at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, winning only once in their previous six trips there.
However, Tottenham have lost four games on the spin and are not in the best shape to face the juggernauts. There is every chance Spurs get steamrolled by Guardiola’s well-drilled machinery.
City wrap up their season by welcoming West Ham to the Etihad. The Hammers’ record against the Cityzens also doesn’t bode well for Arsenal.
West Ham have not defeated City in the league since 2015, losing 13 out of 16 league games in that time, drawing three.
City have the know-how and wherewithal to hold on and claim their tenth league title, but Arsenal will be keen for a misstep in their final fixtures.
