Arsenal

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Arsenal and Bournemouth.

Here are some of your comments:

Arsenal fans

David: I'm afraid this is the norm from Arsenal. They never fail to disappoint and frustrate. I can't understand how a team can go from brilliant to pathetic in such a short time. I'm a lifelong Arsenal fan and I guess should be used to this by now.

Steve: Sadly, I feel it'll be another trophyless season for Arsenal. Our team don't look confident and look devoid of ideas. We've lost that cutting edge and even our set pieces seem fruitless now.

Mike: I'm a lifelong Arsenal fan. Yes we have injuries, but that is no excuse. The players out on the pitch are good enough to win any game. Now playing with so much fear we seem to have forgotten what got us to the top in the first place! Start playing like you want to win the game rather than playing like you are afraid to lose.

John: I was at the game. It was a tactical nightmare for Arteta. No balls through the middle and the wide men in space were left hopelessly waiting. Worrying times. But, there's still hope. We have the squad, but it all falls back on how Arteta can react. I'm not convinced.

Toby: Once again, capitulation, across the board. Being an Arsenal fan is to know heartbreak.

Bournemouth fans

Simon: Very strong performance, great to see Cherries playing after so long it seems and getting more than one point. Deserved win because the press was so dominant and effective. Tactically Arteta was outplayed by Iraola. Unbeaten run is incredible and furthered again. UP THE CHERRIES.

Bob: A three week break towards the end of season is a real bonus. Tough matches against top teams is a real drain on physical strength with a tired Arsenal performance against a fresh Cherries. Can we make it 13 unbeaten?

Nigel: This was no fluke, no hit and run. We were the better team and looked more dangerous going forward. Alex Scott was immense - again! Proud to be a Cherry!

Malcolm: What a solid team performance from the Cherries. A suberb winner from Alex Scott after some lovely play from David Brooks. Obviously the talk will be about how poor Arsenal were, but the truth is they didn't have the same passion and energy as a Bournemouth team on a 12-game unbeaten run. Proud to be a Cherries fan.

Sara Jane: Bournemouth were brilliant. Just praying our manager will stay.

Image source, Getty Images

The Telegraph's Luke Edwards believes that if Arsenal do not win a trophy this season, it would go down as one of the "biggest implosions" and it would have to bring an end to Mikel Arteta's time as manager.

Arsenal have been heavy favourites to win the Premier League for months, but a chastening defeat at home to Bournemouth has ramped up the pressure. The Gunners were also in a strong position to win an unprecedented quadruple before losing the League Cup final against Manchester City and being knocked out of the FA Cup quarter-finals by Championship side Southampton.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily, Edwards said: "It's still in their hands. That's what they've got to think, it's still in their hands. They have been the best team for the majority of the season, and they are just struggling under that burden of history more than anything.

"I keep saying this, but there are a lot of people out there who want them to fail and maybe that's crept into them. They're tightening up, aren't they? That's what it looked like against Bournemouth.

"Arsenal should still believe. They're not going to get a better chance to win the Premier League than they're in now.

"It will go down as one of the biggest implosions, most spectacular implosions of a season if they don't do it now, and then they don't win the Champions League.

"If they end the season trophyless now, then that has got to be the end of Mikel Arteta. I don't even think that's outlandish to say."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal's shock 2-1 defeat by Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium means Mikel Arteta's side have picked up just 70 points from 32 games this season.

The last Premier League champion to have as few points with six games left to play was Leicester City on 69 points in 2015-16.

Only three teams in the last 22 seasons have had as few points at this stage of the season and went on to win the title - Manchester United in 2010-11 (69 points), Manchester City in 2013-14 (70 points) and Leicester City in 2015-16 (69 points).

The average points tally of an eventual champion after 32 games played, in a 38-game season, is 74 points.

Therefore, the Gunners are four points off the pace after Saturday's loss to the Cherries. However, they still have more points at this stage than they did when they won top-flight titles in 1997-98 (66 points) and 2001-02 (69 points).

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Top of the league and in charge of the title race, only to fade away and be pipped at the post? Arsenal have been there before.

But nine points clear after 32 games played and still failing to win the league? No team in Premier League history has capitulated to that extent.

Could Mikel Arteta's side really be the first to throw it away from that position?

After back-to-back draws for nearest rivals Manchester City, along with a four-game winning streak for the Gunners, many were beginning to assume Arsenal's 22-year wait for the Premier League title was finally set to end.

Saturday's chastening 2-1 home defeat by Bournemouth, however, has once again left the door ajar for Pep Guardiola's side - who have two games in hand on the Gunners.

Arteta described Arsenal's first league defeat since January as "a big punch to the face" and a "painful day".

"That's what I said to the boys and now it's about how we react," he added.

React they must. Their next league game is at Eithad Stadium next Sunday and it could go a long way to deciding the title.

Arsenal might be without a number of key players through injury though, but it does look like striker Viktor Gyokeres is finding form at the right time.

After his heroics for Sweden in their World Cup play-offs, he is full of confidence - 11 of his 18 goals for Arsenal in all competitions have come since the turn of the year.

He is also the club's top goalscorer, with his penalty against Bournemouth being his 12th of the Premier League season.

Momentum may be against them at the moment but, if they can regroup and start to put together a run of results, the Gunners can still be celebrating with a trophy at the end of May.

Read Alex Howell's full article here

Pundits Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Brentford 2-2 Everton

• Burnley 0-2 Brighton

• Liverpool 2-0 Fulham

Image source, Getty Images

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 Monday 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

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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