Arsenal face huge Premier League title race moment with 'great opportunity'

The Premier League returns this weekend, and it’s another must‑win game for Mikel Arteta and his side as the final weeks of the season heat up

Alan Shearer has emphasised how big Arsenal's Premier League clash with Bournemouth is on Saturday lunchtime as the season enters its final weeks. Arsenal's last three games across the cups and Champions League have seen Mikel Arteta's side lose twice - the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City and the FA Cup quarter‑final against Southampton.

They did, however, come away with a 1-0 win in their Champions League quarter‑final first leg against Sporting Clube de Portugal in Lisbon, taking a significant advantage back to the Emirates for next week's return leg. After the defeat to Southampton, many questioned whether they would be able to quiet the noise around them as the title‑race pressure intensified.

That will be tested from 12:30pm on Saturday in front of their home fans against a Bournemouth side unbeaten in their last 11 league games. Coincidentally, their last defeat (3-2) came against the Gunners on the south coast at the end of January.

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"This is huge for Arsenal," Shearer emphasised, speaking to BetFair. "If they can win again, then I think it would really, really set them up for a strong finish because I think they'd get a bit of morale and a bit of confidence back.

"They gave themselves a great opportunity in midweek with the hard work and the performance that they put in. So they've got to go again. It's huge for Arsenal.

"It would be a massive blow, though, if they did drop points. I think because of the noise, it's a great opportunity to quiet everything down again.

"They did that on Tuesday, they've got to do it again on Saturday; and if they can, as I said, I just think the momentum is huge.

"They were really disappointing against Southampton and didn't deserve to win against City. So, to get it back in midweek without playing that well. I think they can use that as a strong platform going forward if they get another result this weekend. I think Arsenal will win."

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Bournemouth may be unbeaten in 11, but only four of those matches have been wins, the rest draws. Nonetheless, speaking ahead of their meeting, Arteta warned: "It's amazing what [he's] done together with the club.

"The consistency that they've shown, the manner that they've done it, the amount of players that they've sold, how they have reinvented themselves.

"The run that they are in is incredible because we now have the Premier League. When it comes down to pride, it's huge. When it comes to rivalry on matchday, it's even bigger."

Arsenal sit nine points clear of rivals Manchester City, who have a game in hand against Crystal Palace. Pep Guardiola's side are also yet to host Arsenal at the Etihad on April 19.