Match Preview: AFC Bournemouth v Arsenal

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Andoni Iraola on the sidelines against Leicester. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

AFC Bournemouth face a tough challenge on Saturday evening, as they host title-chasing Arsenal at the Vitality Stadium.

Manager Andoni Iraola confirmed that his squad is fully fit and ready for the encounter, with Tyler Adams available for the first time this season, as he returns from back surgery.

Iraola said: “Availability-wise everyone has come back well.

"There are no injuries from the national team games, I think everyone is going to be available.” 

The Cherries have had a mixed start to their Premier League season, currently sitting 13th with eight points from their first seven games.

Reflecting on their early campaign, Iraola admitted that his team may have deserved more, he said: “If you look at the stats, we should probably have more points.

"The big mistake we’ve made is the game we lost against Leicester.”

Bournemouth will be bolstered by the availability of Tyler Adams and Milos Kerkez, both recovering from injuries.

Iraola said: “Tyler probably lacks game time, but he’s doing very well, he’s trained well and he’s ready.

“Milos is feeling better, and I hope they can both be available.”

Despite the positive injury news, Bournemouth’s key issue has been converting chances into goals.

The Cherries have registered the third most shots in the league, but have only scored eight goals, an inefficiency that has cost them crucial points.

Iraola said: “We are arriving with numbers inside the box and feel like we can score, but the truth is we aren’t scoring enough for the amount of time we are spending close to the opposition goal.”

The challenge intensifies as Bournemouth face three consecutive games against Champions League opposition, starting with Arsenal.

Iraola said: “We have to recover the three points we lost against Leicester in a difficult way."

Aware of Arsenal's quality, Iraola stressed the importance of taking the game to the Gunners, he said: “You must try to respect them, but maybe not so much.

"We haven't been the team we want to be against them, and it’s a challenge for us.”

Facing an Arsenal side aiming to maintain their title push, Bournemouth will need to improve their finishing and impose themselves against one of the league’s strongest defensive units if they hope to cause an upset.

 

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