Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth Predictions

• Arsenal have won their last seven home games
• The Gunners have covered a -1 handicap in four of those wins
• Bournemouth have failed to score in three of their last five games

Premier League back in focus for Gunners

Arsenal have a chance to put further pressure on the chasing pack in the title race when they host Bournemouth in the early Premier League kick off on Saturday.

When the Gunners beat Everton in their last league game around a month ago they were bidding for a quadruple. Those dreams have been shattered after defeat in the EFL Cup final and a shock FA Cup loss at Southampton, but a league and European double is still on the cards after they won 1-0 at Sporting in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.

With rivals Manchester City playing on Sunday, Arsenal could open up a 12-point gap at the top with three points against the Cherries.

They may have to dig deep to overcome Bournemouth, however, as the south coast club are unbeaten in normal time in their last 12 games across all competitions – a run stretching back to a 3-2 defeat to their hosts in the reverse fixture in early January.

Arsenal can win with room to spare

Arsenal are on a seven-game winning streak at home and should be able to end Bournemouth’s unbeaten streak. The hosts are just 4/9 to win so a couple of options jump out for a bigger price option – the win to nil market and the handicaps, and the preference is for the latter as Bournemouth have a decent scoring record against the home side.

Arsenal have won by more than one goal in four of their last seven home wins, they also score on average over two goals per-game at home and concede just 0.6. Unai Emery’s men have five clean sheets in their last six home games and if they are able to keep a shut-out they stand a good chance of winning with room to spare, as Bournemouth have lost by multiple goals at top four sides City and Villa this season.

Job done win for pacesetters

I may have veered away from a home win to nil for the main bet but a Bournemouth goal does look unlikely. Arsenal have only conceded nine goals in 15 home games and the Cherries have failed to score in three of their last five games, including their last two road games.

No team has scored more than twice against Andoni Iraola’s side since Arsenal beat them 3-2 back in January and Arsenal haven’t scored more than twice in any of their last nine games, so a 2-0 home win seems a reasonable correct score prediction.

Kai Havertz hit the winner in Lisbon in midweek after coming off the bench with 20 minutes to play and he could come into the starting side on Saturday. The German forward is yet to score in the league having managed just six outings in an injury-hit season but he could get off the mark on Saturday. Havertz has two goals and an assist in his last three games for club and country and looks to be hitting some form at the perfect time for the North Londoners.