Arsenal vs Bournemouth preview: Gunners look to consolidate fourth spot

Arsenal will look to consolidate their position in the top four as Bournemouth travel to the Emirates on Wednesday night.

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Arsenal are a point clear of injury-hit Manchester United going into Wednesday's fixtures, and three ahead of sixth-place Chelsea; United are at Crystal Palace, while Chelsea host London rivals Tottenham.

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Bournemouth have not won away since October 27, losing all eight times and conceding at least two goals in each of those games.

Team news

Arsenal could be without Alex Iwobi and Stephan Lichtsteiner for Wednesday's visit of Bournemouth.

The pair both came off injured in Sunday's win over Southampton with Iwobi (ankle) and Lichtsteiner (back) being assessed ahead of the Cherries' clash.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles is available after illness as Danny Welbeck (ankle), Hector Bellerin and Rob Holding (both knee) remain sidelined.

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Bournemouth midfielder Jefferson Lerma will miss Wednesday's trip to Arsenal. The Cherries' £25mi record signing begins a two-match ban after picking up his 10th yellow card of the season during Saturday's draw with Wolves.

Manager Eddie Howe remains without Steve Cook (groin), Junior Stanislas (hip), David Brooks (ankle) and Callum Wilson (knee), as well as long-term absentees Simon Francis and Lewis Cook (both knee).

Opta stats

• Arsenal have won all four of their home meetings with Bournemouth in all competitions by an aggregate score of 11-1.
• Bournemouth have won just one of their eight meetings in all competitions with Arsenal (D1 L6), beating them 2-1 at the Vitality Stadium last season.
• Only Manchester City (39) have won more home Premier League points this season than Arsenal (35 - W11 D2 L1).
• Bournemouth have lost each of their last eight away Premier League games, conceding at least two goals each time. The only sides to lose more on the road in a row while conceding at least twice in the competition are Wimbledon (10 between December 1999-May 2000) and Ipswich (11 between January 1995-September 2000).
• English managers have collected just one point in their last 16 Premier League visits to the Emirates against Arsenal (P16 W0 D1 L15) since Garry Monk led Swansea City to a 1-0 win in May 2015.
• Bournemouth haven't lost nine consecutive away league matches since losing 12 in a row between December 1933 and August 1934 in the Third Division South.

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Merson's prediction

Arsenal are flat-track bullies, aren't they? They finish these teams off. With Bournemouth's injuries, I can only see an Arsenal win. This would be another great result in the top-four race.

One point ahead of United, I'm still not sure I see Arsenal getting Champions League. They've got a bad result in them. They will be caught up in the end.

PAUL PREDICTS: 3-1 (10/1 with Sky Bet)

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