By admin 
The Emirates is the setting for the battle of the Basque region managers as Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal welcome Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth in the Premier League.
The two managers know each other well. Both herald from the Basque region of Spain and played alongside one another as children for Antiguoko in San Sebastian.
Their aims for the season are also, in a way, aligned. With the title race now officially over, the Gunners’ priority will be trying to overturn a 1-0 defeat to PSG in the Champions League semi-final first leg. However, Arteta’s side will want to finish the domestic campaign strongly by securing second spot in the league.
Bournemouth are also chasing a potential European place. Iraola’s men dealt Arsenal a blow in the reverse fixture back in October, after they prevailed 2-0 in a game that saw William Saliba sent off.
But the Cherries have won just one of their last nine league games and have never won away at Arsenal.
It promises to be an intriguing encounter in north London.
Read on to see how the two teams line up.
Arsenal team news
Arteta has resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes despite the trip to Paris next week.
Declan Rice make it a century of appearances in an Arsenal shirt. The dynamic midfielder starts alongside Thomas Partey, who missed the clash with midweek PSG through suspension.
The Ghanaian replaces Mikel Merino in one of two changes by the Gunners boss.
The other change sees a start for defender Ben White, who comes in at right-back for Jurrien Timber, who is not in the squad at all.
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Partey, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Trossard.
Subs: Setford, Tierney, Zinchenko, Clarke, Merino, Nwaneri, Butler-Oyedeji, Gower, Sterling.
Milestone met ✅
Declan Rice makes his 100th appearance for The Arsenal 👏 pic.twitter.com/BurG3ZAxE7
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 3, 2025
Bournemouth team news
The Cherries name Evanilson in their starting eleven, after the striker’s suspension was rescinded following his red card in the 1-1 draw with Manchester United last time out.
Iraola makes three changes from the side that began that game last weekend, bringing in Lewis Cook, Julian Araujo and Marcus Tavernier for Adam Smith, Antoine Semenyo and Alex Scott.
Bournemouth: Kepa, Cook, Kerkez, Huijsen, Zabarnyi, Araujo, Tavernier, Adams, Ouattara, Kluivert, Evanilson.
Subs: Dennis, Senesi, Brooks, Scott, Smith, Soler, Jebbison, Hill, Semenyo.
Your Cherries team 🍒🍒 pic.twitter.com/kcTfkqI0B3
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) May 3, 2025