London, England — Arsenal and Bournemouth prepare for an intriguing Premier League clash this Saturday at Emirates Stadium as two former teammates, Mikel Arteta and Andoni Iraola, face off in their managerial careers. The match, set to kick off at 17:30 local time, comes after Arteta praised his counterpart for his impressive work with the Cherries this season.
Arteta and Iraola’s history dates back to 1991, when they both began their youth careers at Antiguoko in San Sebastián. While Arteta moved to Barcelona in 1997, Iraola transferred to Athletic Bilbao in 1999. In a press conference dedicated to the upcoming match, Arteta reflected on their past, saying, “He was super talented, very skilful… Probably none of us thought we were going to be in the position we are in today in the Premier League.”
As the match approaches, Bournemouth sits comfortably in tenth place in the league with 50 points from 34 games, just ahead of their best-ever finish of ninth in the 2016/17 season under manager Eddie Howe. Arteta acknowledged their accomplishments, stating, “In the Premier League, every club in this position has the opportunity to aim high. They have very, very good players.”
Bournemouth has proven to be a formidable opponent this season, having previously handed Arsenal one of their three league defeats. Arteta knows how crucial this match is for both sides as they vie for three important points. He mentioned the need for efficiency against Bournemouth’s approach and highlighted their impressive away record, having accumulated 25 points on the road this season.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth’s strong defensive capabilities are evident, with only 41 goals conceded in the league, tying them for the fourth-best record overall. However, Arteta’s side, despite their second-place standing, has faced challenges throughout the season, particularly with drawing matches. “We’ve dropped 18 points from winning positions,” Arteta said, reflecting on their inability to secure leads.
Iraola, whose squad also enjoys a recent unbeaten run, knows the stakes are high. He remarked, “Arsenal is going to be very, very difficult. They’ve lost one game this season at home.” With the upcoming Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain looming, Arteta may consider rotating his squad for the Bournemouth match.
Iraola emphasized that his team must perform at their best to contend with Arsenal’s quality, noting that, “To beat them, you have to do something special.” As both managers prepare their teams for this weekend’s showdown, the match promises to be an exciting encounter that could significantly impact the respective club’s ambitions as the season nears its end.
