Bournemouth lineup vs. Arsenal: Predicted XI for Premier League clash after Evanilson appeal boost
The ex-Porto marksman was controversially dismissed in last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United for a crunching tackle on Noussair Mazraoui, which Peter Bankes initially deemed worthy of a yellow before being told to review the incident pitchside.
Replays clearly showed Evanilson slipping as he went in on the Man United defender, and Bournemouth have now succeeded with an appeal against his red card and subsequent suspension.
As a result, the Brazilian is fine to lead the line at the Emirates Stadium, most likely as part of an untouched attacking quartet with Antoine Semenyo, Dango Ouattara and Justin Kluivert, the latter of whom has a terrific 13 direct goal involvements from his last 10 Premier League away matches.
The sole change Iraola should consider comes in the centre of the park, as Lewis Cook has only appeared as a substitute in Bournemouth’s last two games as a result of a small ankle problem, but the 28-year-old should be fit enough to partner Tyler Adams as Alex Scott makes way.
Reportedly catching the eye of Arsenal and a host of other top European clubs, the formidable figure of Dean Huijsen mans the backline alongside Milos Kerkez, Ilya Zabarnyi, Adam Smith and number one Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Luis Sinisterra (hamstring) has a slight chance of returning for Saturday’s contest, but Enes Unal (knee) and Ryan Christie (groin) will not play again this season.
Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Kepa; Smith, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Adams, Cook; Semenyo, Kluivert, Ouattara; Evanilson
Click here to see how Arsenal could line up for this game
Andoni Iraola exclusive interview: Bournemouth boss using lessons of Athletic Club and planning future
Andoni Iraola tells Sky Sports about using lessons from Athletic Club at Bournemouth, the risk of losing players, and planning for the future despite interest from Spurs and Real Madrid; watch Arsenal vs B’mouth live on Sky Sports on Saturday; kick-off 5.30pm
This week’s Europa League tie between Manchester United and Athletic Club is an opportunity for Andoni Iraola to cast his mind back to their last meeting, when he captained his former side to a famous quarter-final victory under Marcelo Bielsa in 2012.
“We were very, very good,” he tells Sky Sports with a smile. Typically, he is understating it. “It was a United team that came from winning the Premier League and losing the Champions League final against Barca,” he adds. “They were at their top level with top players…”
And yet they were dismantled over the course of two legs as Athletic Club, with their policy of only using Basque players, showed their remarkable capacity to punch above their weight. Thirteen years on, it is a quality which has come to define Iraola’s current side too.
Iraola, the head coach, guided Bournemouth to a club-record points total in his first season in charge and has already beaten it with four games of his second left to play. Achieving European qualification for the first time in the club’s history remains a possibility.
