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Key events
Jurriën Timber is indeed injured, but his omission today sounds precautionary rather than something more serious. Here’s the latest, hot off the press, courtesy of our man at the Emirates, David Hytner.
Jurrien Timber is nursing a minor knock – the one that forced him off in the first-leg of Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday – and so Mikel Arteta has left him of the squad for today’s visit of Bournemouth. In comes Ben White. But the Arsenal manager has made only one other change: Thomas Partey in, Mikel Merino down to the bench. Partey missed out against PSG because of suspension and he was missed. Arteta is plainly in the mood to ignite some momentum ahead of Wednesday’s second-leg in Paris.
Arsenal name a strong team, making just two changes to the starting XI after the 1-0 home loss to Paris Saint-Germain. Ben White and Thomas Partey are back, with Mikel Merino dropping to the bench, and Jurriën Timber missing out altogether. No word yet on why Timber is absent, but he was withdrawn as a precautionary measure towards the end of that Champions League semi-final after picking up a knock, so let’s see.
Bournemouth make three changes to their starting side after the 1-1 draw with Manchester United. Lewis Cook, Marcus Tavernier and Julián Araujo are in, with Alex Scott, Adam Smith and Antoine Semenyo dropping to the bench.
The teams
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard, Partey, Rice, Saka, Trossard, Martinelli.
Subs: Setford, Tierney, Zinchenko, Merino, Sterling, Butler-Oyedeji, Gower, Nwaneri, Clarke.
Bournemouth: Arrizabalaga, Araujo, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez, Cook, Adams, Tavernier, Kluivert, Ouattara, Evanilson.
Subs: Dennis, Senesi, Brooks, Scott, Smith, Soler, Jebbison, Hill, Semenyo.
Referee: Jarred Gillett (Australia).
Preamble
Arsenal have bigger fish to fry, with the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with PSG coming up next week. Then again, while the Premier League title might be done and dusted, it wouldn’t be the greatest look to somehow end up third or fourth in a two-horse race. And Bournemouth still have their sights set on European football next season, as well as the completion of their very first league double over the Gunners, having won 2-0 at Dean Court last October. So this isn’t without jeopardy. Could be a cracker. Kick-off is at 5.30pm BST. It’s on!
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