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Arsenal vs Bournemouth: Confirmed team news, predicted lineups and injuries

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Mikel Arteta is expected to make significant adjustments to his Arsenal lineup as the team prepares to face Bournemouth in the Premier League this evening.

While attention briefly returns to domestic competition, the reality is that all eyes in north London are firmly on Europe.

The Gunners are still reeling from a 1-0 home defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-final first leg, and with the return fixture in Paris looming large next week, squad rotation is inevitable.

Arsenal’s injury list is mounting at the worst possible time. The team will be without Gabriel Magalhaes, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Takehiro Tomiyasu for the remainder of the season.

Additionally, Riccardo Calafiori and Jorginho remain unavailable, leaving Arteta with limited options as he tries to balance the demands of a congested fixture list.

As a result, the manager is unlikely to take risks with key players in the Bournemouth clash.

Young midfielder Ethan Nwaneri is in contention for a rare start, while Raheem Sterling could be deployed in a more central role. Defensive adjustments are also on the cards, with Kieran Tierney and Oleksandr Zinchenko both pushing for inclusion in the starting eleven.

Ben White, who returned from injury with a substitute appearance on Tuesday, may also be handed a place in the starting lineup to shore up the backline.

Caution will likely be exercised with Bukayo Saka, who recently returned after a lengthy three-month absence. While his presence could be crucial, Arteta may opt to preserve his fitness ahead of the trip to Paris.

Similarly, club captain Martin Ødegaard might be rested as part of the squad rotation, though Arsenal must tread carefully. With the race for Champions League qualification intensifying and recent points dropped against Crystal Palace and Brentford, there’s no room for complacency.

One of the biggest decisions Arteta faces is whether to give Thomas Partey playing time this weekend. The Ghanaian midfielder missed the midweek loss to PSG but is expected to return in time for the decisive second leg in France.

A brief runout against Bournemouth could help sharpen his match fitness without overexerting him before the crucial European tie.

Despite sitting in second place for most of the season, Arsenal’s grip on that position is under threat. Manchester City is closing the gap, now just three points behind after their recent victory over Wolves.

That pressure adds another layer of complexity to Arteta’s team selection. Dropping more points in the league could derail Arsenal’s ambitions on multiple fronts.

A predicted starting eleven for Arsenal might include Raya in goal, a back four of White, Saliba, Kiwior, and Tierney, with Zinchenko and Rice anchoring the midfield.

Merino could slot in alongside them, with Nwaneri, Trossard, and Sterling forming the attacking trio.

The match kicks off at 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. Fans can also stream the action through the Sky Go app and NOW TV with a valid subscription.

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

Andre Onana could remain in Turkey beyond his loan spell, with Trabzonspor keen to secure him on a permanent deal.

The 30-year-old moved to Trabzonspor after falling out of favour at Manchester United, who brought in Senne Lammens last summer. Since then, Lammens has established himself as the club’s first-choice keeper, paving the way for Onana’s temporary switch.

In Turkey, however, Onana has rediscovered his form and quickly become a key figure. He recently grabbed attention with a standout performance in the Turkish Cup, saving three consecutive penalties to help his side overcome Samsunspor and reach the semi-finals.

The moment sparked widespread reactions online, especially from United supporters recalling their earlier penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town, where Onana managed just one save.

Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has openly expressed the club’s desire to keep the goalkeeper. He indicated that while Onana has his own career plans, the club would be eager to make the move permanent if the circumstances align, leaving the final decision in the player’s hands.

Back in England, United are expected to consider selling Onana, particularly with Lammens now firmly established as their number one. The club will likely aim to recover a significant portion of the £47.5 million they paid to sign him from Inter Milan in 2023, with two years still remaining on his contract.

Beyond his cup heroics, Onana has been a consistent presence in the league, starting every match for Trabzonspor and playing a vital role in their push for the title. His performances have earned strong praise in Turkey, with the club currently sitting third in the table, just six points behind leaders Galatasaray.

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Man City place Arsenal ‘bottles’ for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

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Man City place Arsenal 'bottles' for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

Manchester City appear to have kicked off the psychological battle ahead of their Premier League showdown with Arsenal.

In the build-up to the match, bottles branded with the Arsenal logo were reportedly being sold outside the stadium, priced cheaply and seemingly intended as a tongue-in-cheek way for home fans to mock the visiting supporters.

The stunt draws inspiration from a recent viral moment at Stamford Bridge, where a City fan was seen jokingly “drinking Arsenal tears” during their emphatic 3-0 win over Chelsea—a clip that quickly spread across social media.

With tensions already high given the importance of the fixture, the gesture adds another layer to the rivalry between the two sides. Arsenal, meanwhile, will be focused on responding where it matters most—on the pitch—as they aim to silence critics and deliver a strong result in what could be a defining game in the title race.

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

Alejandro Garnacho faced criticism from his former Manchester United teammates following Chelsea’s latest Premier League setback.

A first-half goal from Matheus Cunha secured a narrow but important win for United, strengthening the position of Michael Carrick’s side in the race for Champions League qualification. Chelsea, meanwhile, continue to struggle, with the defeat marking their fourth consecutive league loss without finding the net.

Pressure is mounting on head coach Liam Rosenior, who only took charge a few months ago after replacing Enzo Maresca. While the club has not publicly wavered in its support, questions are beginning to emerge over several players, including Garnacho, whose performances have failed to meet expectations since his £40 million move from Old Trafford.

Reports suggest Chelsea could be open to offers for the 21-year-old after a difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge. He had an early opportunity to impress against his former side after coming on for the injured Estevao, but once again struggled to make an impact, finding it hard to break through a United defence that was missing several first-choice centre-backs.

Garnacho also received a hostile reception from United supporters during the match, and the reaction appeared to carry over beyond the pitch. After the game, Luke Shaw shared an image on social media showing himself standing over Garnacho following a challenge. Bruno Fernandes responded with a playful but pointed comment, while former teammate Alex Telles also joined in with reactions.

Chelsea’s broader struggles are becoming increasingly concerning. They now sit four points behind Liverpool in the race for fifth place, despite having played an extra game. The current run—four straight league defeats without scoring—is their worst in nearly three decades, with an even longer drought not seen since 1912.

Across all competitions, the form is equally worrying, with six losses in their last seven matches and 16 goals conceded during that stretch. A significant portion of their recent goals have come in a single outing against Port Vale, highlighting their lack of consistency in front of goal.

After the match, Rosenior admitted uncertainty about what failing to qualify for the Champions League could mean for his future. He acknowledged the result was difficult to take, especially given that Chelsea created numerous chances but failed to convert them. He pointed out that United capitalised on a limited opportunity, while his side were unable to make their attacking pressure count.

Despite the frustration, Rosenior emphasized the need for continued effort and improvement, insisting that the team must find a way to turn their form around before the situation worsens further.

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