Arsenal vs Bournemouth Prediction: Gunners can ensure the Cherries fire blanks again

Arsenal have seven games standing between them and a first Premier League title in 22 years. The Gunners are nine points clear at the summit and their next game comes at the Emirates against AFC Bournemouth on Saturday (12:30 BST, TNT Sports 1).

The Cherries have had a few weeks to digest their 2-2 draw at home to Manchester United as they bid to finish the campaign in the top half of the table. Read on for my Arsenal vs Bournemouth predictions, as well as the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Martin Odegaard has picked up a fresh issue and the Arsenal captain will need to be assessed to see if he is okay to play a part on Saturday.

Mikel Merino remains sidelined with a foot injury, while Piero Hincapie (unspecified) and Eberechi Eze (calf) are also ruled out. Bukayo Saka (unspecified) and Jurrien Timber (groin) are both doubts for the weekend.

Premier League Odds

Bournemouth duo Justin Kluivert (knee) and Julio Soler (thigh) won't be in a position to return to the pitch until May, and the Cherries might also have to cope without Tyler Adams (unspecified) and Lewis Cook (thigh) in north London.

Arsenal vs Bournemouth Odds

Arsenal are a 4/9 bet to claim their fifth straight success in the top flight.

Bournemouth have played out five consecutive draws in the league coming into this contest, and the stalemate here is marketed at 18/5. The Cherries are 6/1 to stun the league leaders.

There were five goals in January's reverse fixture and over 3.5 goals is an attractive price at 13/8 for Saturday.

Today's Football Fixtures

Which Team To Score - Only Arsenal @ 7/5

The foundation on which Arsenal's title credentials have been built is their defensive organisation. They may not play a way deemed exciting by some people but it has generated 61 goals, while they have only conceded 22 times in 31 matches.

Mikel Arteta's side have kept eight clean sheets at the Emirates in the league this term from 15 games. The Gunners have scored in seven of those fixtures, so I think there is value to be had in backing them to be the only team to get on the scoresheet here. This includes their most recent home victory over Everton.

At 7/5 (implied probability of 41.7%), Betfred are being quite generous with this price.

Bournemouth's drawing run has produced three blanks in front of goal. This does not bode well for them against the club with the best defensive record in the division.

Anytime Goalscorer - Viktor Gyokeres @ 11/10

I don't think we have seen the best of Viktor Gyokeres in an Arsenal shirt this season. Most of this campaign has served as a transition period for the towering Swede, but he has still managed to bag 17 goals across all competitions. Eleven of them have been scored in the Premier League.

He should be looking forward to Saturday's home clash because he has netted three goals across his previous three appearances at the Emirates in the top flight. I fancy him to add to his tally here.

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