Arsenal

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Commentator Lee Blakeman, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live at the Emirates: "The Sporting win counted for nothing. You would've thought that playing at the Emirates given what has happened, that game aside, in the last few weeks would give Arsenal the boost that they needed.

"The extra atmosphere that Mikel Arteta called for arrived pre-match, but on the pitch Arsenal were consistently second best.

"Despite making all five substitutions at his disposal, Mikel Arteta and his players had no idea how to break through a Bournemouth side who without the ball were absolutely spot on."

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown, speaking on TNT Sports: "Now people have to stand up. Personalities have to come forward. Leaders need to emerge.

"It's still in your hands because you play Manchester City in the Premier League.

"You do have a Champions League game midweek though, and you need to make sure that the wheels do not come off."

Former Spurs midfielder Andy Reid on BBC Radio 5 Live: "It absolutely leaves the title race wide open.

"The concerning thing for Arsenal will be the lack of creativity, the lack of guile, the desire to get into the right areas.

"Also a lack of game understanding today, trying to play through the press when sometimes you have to go around or over it, they did neither. Too many sideways passes and they paid the price for it."

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta spoke to TNT Sports after his side's defeat by Bournemouth: "Disappointing. It's a big punch in the face and it's about how we react now. They are a team who haven't lost for 11 games for a reason, they did a lot right.

"We were far from efficient. The first chance they had to attack the box, it's a deflection, a bad defending action and it's a goal. That's something we have to recover from.

"The second half you expect a different game. We did a lot of strange things today.

"We have been very consistent. This can happen, this is football."

On whether the players are hurting: "A lot. It has to hurt. They have to take it on the chin. You stand up and go for the fight or you're out.

"It's a big week. A lot at stake. We're still in a good position in both competitions."

Did you know?

• After only suffering three defeats in their opening 49 matches of this season in all competitions, Arsenal have since lost three of their last four.

Alex Howell
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

This match always felt like a huge moment in the Gunners season.

After recent disappointments, it was time to make a statement.

Arteta must now hope it is not the game that is highlighted as the one where Arsenal threw away the title.

Supporters arrived full of hope for a confident performance after their late winner against Sporting in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Instead they witnessed a nervy performance with Arsenal well below their best.

Injuries have hit Arsenal at a crucial time and they were without Bukayo Saka, captain Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber.

Myles Lewis-Skelly came in at left-back for just his second league start of the season, with Riccardo Calafiori also unavailable.

Arsenal's attack lacked rhythm and potency, a problem Arteta aimed to solve with his second-half triple change, but Bournemouth were the team most willing to be bold when going forward.

There is a sense of desperation within the fanbase after three successive second-placed finishes in the Premier League, and every loose pass from Arsenal was met with groans from home supporters.

It will get no easier from here. After the Sporting second leg on Wednesday, Arsenal have to be up to speed for Sunday's trip to Etihad Stadium, which is followed by a home game against Newcastle.

There is a chance that come kick-off on 25 April against the Magpies, Arsenal's lead will have entirely eroded, as City face Chelsea, the Gunners themselves and Burnley before then. That would be tough to swallow, and tough to come back from.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Arsenal's performance

What did you make of Bournemouth's display?

Come back on Sunday for a selection of your replies

Image source, BBC Sport

Myles Lewis-Skelly starts in place of Riccardo Calafiori, who is not in the Arsenal squad. There is also no Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka or Jurrien Timber for the Gunners. Eberechi Eze returns to the bench after injury.

Arsenal starting XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Zubimendi, Havertz, Martinelli, Madueke, Gyokeres

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Hincapie, Jesus, Eze, Norgaard, Trossard, Dowman, Salmon

Andoni Iraola makes one change to the Bournemouth side that played against Manchester United in their last league game. Junior Kroupi comes in for Amine Adli.

Bournemouth starting XI: Petrovic, Jimenez, Senesi, Hill, Truffert, Christie, Scott, Tavernier, Kroupi, Rayan, Evanilson

Subs: Mandas, Adams, Brooks, Gannon-Doak, Smith, Diakite, Adli, Unal, Toth

Image source, BBC Sport

There are four games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Arsenal v Bournemouth (12:30)

• Brentford v Everton (15:00) - Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Burnley v Brighton (15:00) - Listen on Sports Extra 2

• Liverpool v Fulham (17:30) - Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times BST

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Brentford v Everton" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Liverpool v Fulham".

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Arsenal will aim to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to 12 points against a Bournemouth side unbeaten in their past 11 matches.

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes ahead of their meeting at Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta called for perspective before the quarter-final first-leg visit to Sporting on Tuesday night and the Gunners' mini-crisis was subsequently averted following a last-gasp 1-0 win.

Arteta's side had entered that contest following losses in the League Cup final and quarter-finals of the FA Cup in back-to-back matches, but a crucial midweek European win has softened the landing of a return to Premier League football, where their form has remained consistently good in recent weeks.

Arsenal resume domestic affairs knowing a win against Bournemouth will stretch their lead at the top of the table to 12 points, with Manchester City not travelling to Chelsea until Sunday.

A victory against the Cherries would also equal Arsenal's longest winning run this season of five Premier League fixtures, a feat they have achieved twice already in 2025-26.

Central to their success in recent matches has been teenager Max Dowman. The 16-year-old scored in Arsenal's last league outing against Everton to seal a 2-0 win, while his appearance as a second-half substitute against Sporting earlier this week when the game was still goalless demonstrated his increased trust to play in the biggest matches.

Dowman's midweek outing made him the second-youngest player to feature in a Champions League knockout match at the age of 16 years and 97 days, although visitors Bournemouth have a starlet of their own enjoying a standout season.

Junior Kroupi may be several years older than his Arsenal counterpart, but the 19-year-old's performances bely those of a teenager playing his first season of Premier League football.

Twelve of Kroupi's 26 Premier League appearances in this campaign have come off the bench as he vies with Evanilson for game time but the France Under-21 international has still scored nine league goals, including one in the 3-2 home defeat to Arsenal in January.

His most recent goal came from the penalty spot to earn the Cherries a 2-2 draw at Manchester United on 20 March and preserve their 11-game unbeaten run.

Should Kroupi score for the second time against the Gunners this season, he will become the first teenager to score 10 goals in his debut Premier League campaign since Robbie Keane for Coventry City in 1999-00 (12), and just the fourth overall.

As I was saying on this week's Monday Night Club, some of the stuff I heard criticising Arsenal after they lost two games in a row is over the top.

Yes, they were well beaten by Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final, but City are a good side and they can do that to teams. Then it was Arsenal's reserves who lost to Southampton in the FA Cup.

We saw a reaction from Mikel Arteta's side with their win over Sporting on Tuesday. It was a big goal from Kai Havertz to give them an advantage to take into next week's second leg, and I think we will see a similar performance here.

Bournemouth will give them a good game and they are in decent form too - they are on a run of five draws but they have not lost in 11 league matches since Arsenal beat them 3-2 on the south coast at the start of January.

Everyone is trying to put the pressure on Arsenal but I've looked at the games they have got left, including this one, and their record against all seven opponents earlier this season is strong - the only team they have to play who they haven't beaten already is City.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

The latest news and views on the Gunners in two minutes, every weekday afternoon.

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Flora Snelson
BBC Sport journalist

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Bournemouth at the Emirates (kick-off 12:30).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Eberechi Eze is available having recovered from a calf injury. Arteta said: "The way that he has pushed to be there [back fit] is great to watch."

• When asked whether Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber, Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori will be available, Arteta said: "I don't know. Some of them."

• Arteta asked that fans get down to the stadium early in order to provide the best possible support: "I would please ask them to be there with that mindset, that energy and that commitment because the team will respond beautifully to that. Get up early, have an early breakfast, bring your lunch and let's go for it together because it has to be a big day."

• There is no update on his contract, but Arteta noted: "I am fully committed here. I am really happy and I feel good."

• Mikel Merino's injury recovery is going well: "I am sure there is a chance that he could make this period shorter. If there is a person that can do it, I am sure it is Mikel."

• Arteta praised the "really good" reaction his team showed against Sporting and said he has "a lot" of belief that his team can win the Champions League.

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Got a question about Arsenal? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

For Arsenal, it is all about the here and now.

The club is potentially seven games from winning a first Premier League in 22 years and within touching distance of the Champions League semi-finals.

Mikel Arteta is on course to come good on his mantra: "Trust the process".

That said, there's no sense that any glory in May would mark the culmination of Arteta's work or ambitions.

The summer is seen as an opportunity for the club to take another step forward, regardless of how the end of this season pans out, but there are some crucial decisions looming, including Arteta's contract which is up at the end of next season.

In the era of the head coach, Arteta is a football manager in the traditional sense. Few enjoy the level of autonomy the Spaniard does. He has earned that power, of course, after improving Arsenal over his tenure.

Silverware - the first since an FA Cup in his first year - will serve to tighten that grip.

It is understood initial discussions have taken place and they are described as heading in a positive direction.

Given the magnitude of what's on the horizon on the pitch, all parties are understood to have agreed this isn't the right time, with the full focus on the season finale.

But sources have indicated that talks will restart in the close season. From an ownership and club perspective, extending Arteta's deal is what they want - and the manager is also keen to commit.

You'd imagine Arteta will be aware that he is unlikely to be afforded the level of influence he currently has at any other club in Europe. Yet, with that said, finances will be a key factor once discussions recommence.

Arteta is understood to want assurances that the club remain committed to providing the level of backing that has kept his team competitive - and there will also be the issue of an upgraded remuneration package.

It is understood the three-year contract Arteta signed in 2024 is worth £10m a season, plus a further £5m triggered by Champions League qualification.

Only the salaries of Pep Guardiola (£20m) and Diego Simeone (£25m) are understood to eclipse Arteta's existing contract in European football.

So if he does put pen to paper, how much closer he gets to Guardiola and Simeone in terms of pay will be a key question.

• Read more from Sami on Arsenal

Liverpool and Manchester City have joined Arsenal in the race to sign 19-year-old Bayer Leverkusen and Cameroon forward Christian Kofane. (Teamtalk, external)

Meanwhile Aston Villa and England midfielder Morgan Rogers looks likely to be at the centre of a transfer tug of war this summer after Arsenal, along with Manchester United and Chelsea renewed their interest in the 23-year-old. (Times - subscription required, external)

RB Leipzig and Castello Lukeba are in agreement that the France defender will leave the club this summer, with Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United all assessing the 23-year-old. (Teamtalk, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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The Premier League's return this weekend brings trepidation for some and excitement for others.

Football's emotional rollercoaster becomes intense at this time of year, unless of course mid-table mediocrity has taken a grip of things in recent months.

So how are you feeling as an Arsenal fan with just a handful of weeks left to go?

The league form reads: DDWWWW

The next three league fixtures are: Bournemouth (h), Manchester City (a) and Newcastle (h)

Let us know how you're feeling here

Chris Howard
Fan writer

Image source, PA Media

What a difference a world-class keeper can make.

On Tuesday, David Raya showed Arsenal fans and the watching media how the position of goalkeeper can be a match-winner as much as any centre forward.

His fingertip save after six minutes was the pick of the bunch, but it was also that early in the game that it could have been a real sliding doors moment for Arsenal.

Had Araujo scored that goal, who knows whether it would have led to more, as Sporting and their fans would have been buoyed. But Arsenal were able to regroup and ultimately go on to win the game late.

Kepa was hardly bad against Southampton, but the upgrade on Tuesday felt very marked indeed. Better distribution, calmness at the back that puts defenders' minds at ease, plus the ability to pull off some very impressive shot-stopping, is why people (including goalscorer Kai Havertz) are calling Raya the "best in the world".

He certainly showed his credentials, also making tidy stops towards the end from two or three Sporting players, as well as adopting his "sweeper-keeper" role well with one header out that threatened to lead to something, but eventually fizzled out.

And all of this hard work was to see the whole team rewarded in the end. Yes, it was a bit "smash-and-grab", but when you have players like Raya doing their part to get you to the point where you can nick it at the death, then you have to credit their performance.

He will be pleased with his night's work - it is another clean sheet on the list.

Find more from Chris Howard at Suburban Gooners, external and the Same Old Arsenal Podcast, external

Arsenal are looking to strengthen in defence this summer, with Real Madrid's Spanish defender Victor Valdepenas, 19, and Como's Spain Under-21 centre-back Jacobo Ramon, 21, among the targets. (Caughtoffside, external)

Gabriel Martinelli is pushing to stay with the Gunners amid indications from the club that he could be sold this summer. (Football Insider, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport