If Cherries reach Europe, they would have done it the hard way
[Getty Images] When Bournemouth run out at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, it will be nearly a year since they recorded one of the most famous away wins in the club's history at the same venue. It was 3 May, 2025 when Andoni Iraola's Cherries triumphed 2-1 against his childhood team-mate Mikel Arteta's Arsenal to complete a seasonal double over the Gunners, who had already lost out on the 2024-25 title to newly crowned champions Liverpool. Then, as now, Arsenal v Bournemouth was sandwiched between a two-legged Champions League knockout tie, but despite two recent cup defeats ending talk of a quadruple, this is an Arsenal side still battling on two fronts and holding a nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Bournemouth, in some ways, are barely recognisable from the team which pulled off that victory last May. Of the 15 Cherries players to take the field that day, six are no longer at the club, two are out on loan and only three of the remaining seven started the most recent game against Manchester United, with three others currently injured. If anyone needs reminding, three of last season's Cherries back four are involved in the Champions League quarter-finals, as is last season's regular goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who is likely to be on Arsenal's bench against his former loan side.
And if that Arsenal game last May feels like a long time ago, it also feels a long time since Bournemouth led the "as it stands" Premier League table for an hour or so during their eighth league game of the season at Crystal Palace in October. But while the only record Bournemouth look in danger of breaking is the most draws in a Premier League season - their total of 15 is two shy of the 38-game season record of 17 - they will surely not give up hope of grabbing a European place until it is mathematically impossible to earn it. With Arsenal's win at Sporting on Tuesday guaranteeing a fifth Champions League place for English clubs, two of the FA Cup semi-finalists in contention for top-five spots, and Manchester City's Conference League place for winning the Carabao Cup surely destined to revert to the league, it is not unrealistic that eighth place could earn European qualification.
However, with remaining fixtures against Arsenal, Newcastle, Leeds, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest, the Cherries would have to do it the hard way.