LEAGUE leaders Arsenal return to Premier League action with the spotlight firmly back on their title push, and Bournemouth’s visit is likely to provide a tasty test.
Spaniard Mikel Arteta will need a performance of conviction from his side, if only to show resilience after a pair of domestic cup defeats that preceded their narrow but welcome Champions League win in midweek.
They lost to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final before crashing out of the FA Cup last weekend at the hands of Championship side Southampton.
Against Sporting Lisbon, they returned to winning ways, seeing off the Portuguese champions with an injury‑time goal from Kai Havertz on Wednesday.
Bournemouth, for their part, may relish the task. They arrive at the Emirates on an impressive 11‑match unbeaten run dating back to early January – solid form built on sturdy defending and a knack for incisive attacking.
What may concern Arteta is whether his side can rediscover the rhythm that has made them the best team in England so far this season.
When the Gunners control the tempo, they are difficult to beat – pinning opponents back and creating the kind of pressure that forces even elite sides to buckle.
Injuries, though, could prove rather disruptive.
Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber are reportedly on the treatment table, and their absence could significantly alter Arsenal’s structure.
Without Saka, Arsenal lose their most reliable conduit going forward – he is unquestionably their principal source of progression.
With Timber out, their first phase also becomes more predictable, limiting their fluidity and encouraging Bournemouth to have a go themselves.
Tottenham Hotspur’s trip to Sunderland’s Stadium of Light carries similar potential for an explosive fixture between two sides desperate for three points.
Spurs sit just one place above the relegation zone, and the arrival of Roberto De Zerbi on a five‑year contract should give some indication tomorrow of whether they can escape the drop.
The highly rated Italian is said to have already instilled direction and intensity in training, and it will be interesting to see what that translates to on the pitch.
De Zerbi’s teams are known for playing out from the back – however risky that may be – soaking up pressure before breaking forward with serious commitment.
It is exciting, attacking football, but it can leave them exposed if caught in possession.
That is what Sunderland will hope to exploit, which should in turn leave us with an open, end‑to‑end contest: one more than likely to create heroes and villains in equal measure. — By SHAUN ORANGE
