Arsenal

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There is plenty riding on Arsenal's trip to Parc des Princes, so we asked you to describe your current emotions and predict whether or not Mikel Arteta's side will progress to the Champions League final.

Here are some of your replies:

David: Season-defining is an understatement to say the least. This is a test of the team and the manager's character. If they win, it will be the greatest victory for an Arsenal side in over 20 years. Should we fail, this season will be considered yet another mediocre effort by a team and manager that can't quite get over the line. Everything is crossed. Come on, you Gunners!

Kate: Mentality is everything. If we believe we can win, then we will win. The fans need to get behind them. Win or lose, we have had an amazing run. We can take lessons from this into next season, either way. Mikel should get Renee Slegers in to give the boys a pep talk. The women's team came from behind twice to make it to the final and the one-club mentality seems to be strong right now.

John: The main feeling for the game against PSG is trepidation. Last weekend's game just shows how fragile our defence is at the moment. Since Gabriel's injury, William Saliba's form has dropped and David Raya has become a liability when passing out. Coupled with Arteta's stubbornness, I can't see us being able to keep PSG out and taking the few chances we will be allowed. The season is just about over and I, for one, can't wait for it to be over.

Rob: It all depends on what Arsenal team turns up. The sweet, fast-flowing, attacking-minded masters or the 11 strangers wandering about who look like they have never kicked a football before. Fingers crossed for the first option.

Aquinas: I still have faith in this Arsenal team to overcome that one-goal deficit. However, they have to be clinical and defend well to have any chance of reaching the final.

Nigel: Usual feelings of anxiety, nervousness and trepidation. These feelings wouldn't normally be so forthcoming but it seems our clutch has gone and we can't kick-start into the first gear, let alone anything else. Our whole season seems to be written off now, and we haven't even started the second half of the semi-final yet. We are capable of magical moments and this is absolutely where we need to dig deep and find them.

Could the Champions League semi-final second leg at Paris St-Germain on Wednesday be the defining moment of Mikel Arteta's legacy at Arsenal?

Fans Alex Moneypenny and James Clark tell The Football News Show's Ben Croucher why this is "make or break" for the Gunners manager.

How are you feeling before the big night in Paris? Let us know here

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

Laura Kirk-Francis
Fan writer

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Arsenal's home defeat by Bournemouth at the weekend marked the 10th time this season they have dropped points from a winning position.

Only one win in five Premier League matches is further indication that the wheels of this already faltering campaign are fully coming off. And the timing could not be worse given the season-defining Champions League semi-final second leg on Wednesday against Paris St-Germain.

Saturday's display was worrying on many levels, not least because it drags Arsenal firmly back into the scrap for Champions League qualification. Having suffered lengthy spells on the sidelines, Ben White had a torrid day, while the speed at which Bournemouth were able to transition showed their quality.

Even so, Arsenal were bullied all over the pitch.

Most worrying, for me, is the psychological fragility that has crept back into this Arsenal side.

One of the areas with the most improvement under Mikel Arteta is how Arsenal have faced up to and overcome the sides that have previously caused so much trouble. It has been nearly two whole seasons since Arsenal lost to a so-called 'big six' side.

And yet the second half against Bournemouth was a disturbing throwback to a dark era for Arsenal - one during which they got beaten 6-0 at Chelsea and conceded four goals inside 20 minutes at Liverpool in 2014.

In the context of where Arsenal are now, that might seem an overreaction. But there was a real sense of being second best everywhere on the pitch on Saturday.

Add in the fact that we went 1-0 up with a brilliantly worked goal by Declan Rice, there is an obvious lack of belief from both fans and players that a one-goal lead can be converted into three points.

Perhaps that might be the only reason to believe Arsenal can get a result on Wednesday. They cannot throw away a lead if they do not already have one.

How are you feeling before Wednesday's game - excited, nervous, fearful? And how should the Gunners approach the match in Paris? Have your say here

Find more from Laura Kirk-Francis at the Latte Firm podcast, external

An arguably season-defining game is on the horizon for Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final second leg - and we can imagine the nerves are setting in, as well as some excitement and anticipation.

There's a lot riding on this trip to Paris, so we'd like you to describe your emotions going into Wednesday night's game.

What approach do you want to see Mikel Arteta take? And what result do you think you are going to get?

Let us know your thoughts here

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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Arsenal midfielder Jorginho is nearing a move to Brazilian side Flamengo.

The 33-year-old, who was born in Brazil, is out of contract with the Gunners this summer.

Jorginho, who is currently injured, has featured 26 times for Arsenal in all competitions this season but talks for his move to Flamengo are at an advanced stage.

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We asked for your views on Martin Odegaard's form this season after criticism in some quarters.

Here is the case for his defence:

Ned: Unfairly treated. Odegaard has not been at his best this season, but he was injured for a significant proportion of it. Arsenal have lost the league because they keep dropping points from winning positions (10 times so far). In other words, our defence is the problem. Worrying, as in the past two seasons, this has been our greatest strength. But Arteta has really dropped the ball in the league this season.

Tom: Honestly, Odegaard looks like he's low on energy and confidence. He is missing passes and taking fewer risks, not being the creative abundance we've got used to. Maybe he just needs a rest? We have no depth, and as the captain, he will feel the most pressure.

James: I would say that Odegaard may not be performing at 100% but he has just had a newborn baby and become a dad for the first time at a young age. We are very quick to judge someone without factoring in any other variables about someone's life. These players are all human, yet we expect them to perform like robots and think that because they get paid a vast amount of money, it negates the rest of their life!

Joe: Odegaard has set such a high bar with his performances for Arsenal. He hasn't been back to his best since his injury, and he bears a lot of the pressure to make things happen, along with Bukayo Saka. There are bigger issues on and off the pitch, and the rest of the team needs to help him out.

Mandy: His flow and confidence this season has been disrupted by injuries to himself, Bukayo Saka, Ben White and Kai Havertz. The team has consequently appeared disjointed during quite a few Premier League games. No one person is to blame for this and Odegaard is a very good captain, who always tries to lead from the front.

• Not an Arsenal fan? Find and follow your club here

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Many of you disagreed and said you think Martin Odegaard has not been good enough this season.

Here are some of your comments:

Jarvis: Odegaard is performing well against the big clubs like Real Madrid in the quarter-final of the Champions League, but when it comes to the Premier League games, he doesn't rise to the occasion.

Alan: I've never seen him as captain material. Has had some great seasons, but not this one. Declan Rice is an obvious choice; he has all the qualities demanded and should take the armband next season, leading us to victories. Martin has not fully come back from injury. Maybe he will in August, but in my opinion, not as captain when there is clearly someone with better credentials right there on the pitch with him.

Simon: Yes, he is underperforming. Definitely talented, but when really required to make a difference in the big games and big moments, he doesn't seem to have the confidence. It's not a talent thing - it's a mental thing. Having the continued support of his manager is important, but the club should get another similar player in, and having competition and someone to perform in tandem with him will help. A great example of his lack of confidence is his shooting. It's been pretty woeful this season and last. A player of his ability should be scoring 15 goals a season. It often opens up for him, but he won't pull the trigger.

Michael: Odegaard is a wonderfully gifted footballer, but not the captain that Arsenal need. Increasingly, we hear from Arteta after another disappointing performance how we were lacking intensity or energy, like he's just an observer. What we need is a Patrick Vieira-style general on the pitch, driving the team to make sure it doesn't happen. Don't just analyse it - fix it there and then.

Ryan: As the skipper, he doesn't seem to handle the pressure too well. Since he has returned, he takes far too many touches and has become afraid to shoot. All his free-kicks are hit the wall every time. I would seriously consider dropping him for Wednesday.

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Martin Odegaard has provided an assist in each of his past three Premier League matches, and yet we are hearing plenty of criticism from Arsenal fans over his performances.

After the Gunners fell well short of the Premier League title and are up against it in the Champions League, some have suggested Odegaard needs to do more - with a few even arguing he ought to be stripped of the captaincy.

But where do you stand? Is the criticism valid?

Or is Odegaard being unfairly made a scapegoat when actually there are bigger issues afoot?

Let us know

Arsenal may have a Champions League semi-final second leg to focus on at Paris St-Germain on Wednesday, but their league form has taken a significant downturn in the process.

They have won just one of their past five games in the Premier League, dropping points from winning positions in the other four with three draws and a defeat.

Mikel Arteta's side drew three games in April, with Everton, Brentford and Crystal Palace all coming from behind to earn a point.

Saturday's defeat against Bournemouth made it a staggering 21 points coughed up this season when ahead - converting just half of those into victories would have Arsenal still a viable contender in this season's title race.

• Not an Arsenal fan? Find and follow your club here

The noticeable trend is the Gunners' inability to push forward for a second goal once they have taken the lead.

Chances are wasted, shots are not taken and this allows the opposition to get back into games that Arsenal could have put to bed.

For instance, on Saturday, the Gunners only had two shots on target after Declan Rice's opener and were unable to muster any once Dean Huijsen had levelled for the Cherries.

In mitigation, that 2-1 was the first time Arsenal have actually lost when leading at half-time in 63 occasions - winning 53 and drawing 10 previously since a 2-1 defeat by Manchester City in January 2022.

However, if any more points are thrown away after going in front, it will be the worst in Arsenal's Premier League history - and with five teams in the race for the Champions League below them, it is crucial they get the points they need to qualify.

Arsenal's final three games are against champions Liverpool, Newcastle and already-relegated Southampton with the main focus on securing a Champions League place for next season.

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We asked for your views on Arsenal's defeat at home against Bournemouth.

Here are some of your comments:

Martin: Arsenal have the same problems every season. They start the season with the smallest group of top players possible. Then they get a few injuries (not as many as this season) and by the end of the season they have nothing left to give. They lose half a yard and run out of ideas. In the Premier League, other teams can see that and take full advantage. When Arsenal have a full squad, they are one of the best in Europe and teams don't really want to play them. But when they lose two or three players everyone wants to play them. Hopefully, they will strengthen in the summer and don't lose any top players.

Rachel: Same old, same old. Seriously worrying Arsenal performance. Another pathetic display from Martin Odegaard who didn't bother to turn up. It doesn't fill me with optimism for remaining games and looks like we're going to fade away yet again.

Brian: Yet again Arsenal play in this overly regimented style making lots of pretty passes that go across and backwards and is clearly easy to defend against if you're as resolute as Bournemouth were. It's too pedestrian and predictable. Somewhat ironic that Arsenal get undone from set pieces now that their own overly choreographed set plays at corners have been sussed out by the opposition.

Dan: Simply pathetic, again. If Arteta had rested the first team, I wouldn't be as mad, but well done Mikel, you've tired your starters, with the most important game of the season just days away. Given we're almost guaranteed to fail to beat PSG, I think we have to focus on qualifying for the Champions League. We'll struggle to finish top five in this form.

Terrence: Pitiful, clueless, effortless and so on. We played like a tired bunch that have never seen a football match. As I said weeks ago, Arsenal will be lucky to finish in the top four. They deserve the criticism, sad end to the season.

Wendy: There is no room for negativity now. We who are proud Arsenal supporters over many years just have to keep on believing that the team will do the best they can. Keep up the fight, all of you, let's win, next week and to the end of the season!

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Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker says Arsenal have lost momentum at a crucial time of the season with the game against Paris St-Germain looming on Wednesday.

"You want your players to go into a game confident with that winning feeling," he told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "When you look at how Arsenal lost to Bournemouth, they are going to be very disappointed. It was not a heavily rotated team - it was a strong a team as Arsenal could put out.

"I think they were probably thinking about the Champions League game during this game. There was too much of that in the back of their mind, which probably caused them to lose to Bournemouth. They have made it difficult for themselves."

Former striker Clinton Morrison added: "Arsenal have been poor. I thought this was the greatest opportunity this season for Arsenal to challenge Liverpool because the other teams will be back and competing next season.

"Mikel Arteta definitely had one eye on PSG but he wanted to win the game for confidence. They didn't perform. They went 1-0 up and they didn't put the ball in the back of the net. There were opportunities to shoot - they want to score the perfect goal. It probably frustrates the Arsenal fans as well. They are frustrating to watch.

"At the end of the season, if they end up finishing third and get knocked out by PSG, what is that season? That means they have gone basically gone backwards."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Arsenal have enquired about signing Brazil forward Rodrygo from Real Madrid, while Manchester City are also interested in the 24-year-old. (Relevo - in Spanish), external

Arsenal and Aston Villa are eyeing 25-year-old Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, with the Serie A club expected to ask for around £42m for the Serbian. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

Finally, Real Madrid are targeting 24-year-old Arsenal centre-back William Saliba, who is under contract with the Gunners until 2027. (L'Equipe - in French), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's Four Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Manchester City and Wolves.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Everton 2-2 Ipswich

• Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth

Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist

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Arsenal have it all to do in the Champions League as they look to overturn a 1-0 first-leg defeat and win at Paris St-Germain on Wednesday to reach the final.

The thing they needed before that was momentum with a win. Failing that at least a good performance against Bournemouth but ultimately they delivered neither.

Mikel Arteta also appeared to agree that momentum was needed as he named a strong side against the Cherries and although Declan Rice gave them a first-half lead, the performance was never convincing.

Bournemouth had chances before the Arsenal opener but found their finishing lacking and in the end it was set-pieces that proved key.

The Gunners are usually so strong from them but instead it was Bournemouth who made the most of theirs, scoring from a long throw and a corner.

It was the first time they had conceded two goals from set-piece situations in the same Premier League game since December 2023.

It also means the Gunners have dropped 21 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, their joint-most ever in a single campaign (also 21 in 2019-20).

The season is ending disappointingly for Arsenal, unless they can use this defeat as motivation to upset the odds and win in Paris.

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Andoni Iraola spoke to Sky Sports after Bournemouth's victory against Arsenal: "I liked the game overall. I think we had chances. They scored but we played well. The key was the set plays in the second half. In the end in these close games to make the difference with the set plays was the key to take the three points.

On staying patient: "I think we have been at half time talking about a good first half. They [Arsenal] are going to have chances but we were playing well, having a lot of the ball, taking good positions. It was a matter of doing the same thing, pushing a bit more, and I think the subs also helped us. Antoine [Semenyo] coming from the bench was a good spark at that moment when both teams were tired.

On Semenyo's long throws: "Yes we hardly score any, that's the first one. We conceded two or three this season. We have a couple of players who can put in dangerous throws. Today [the throw] was longer than I expected, but it's a nice moment to score this type of goal."

On goalscorer Dean Huijsen: "I think he is playing very well. Even in this scenario being on the ball he was confident. It's dfficult to defend everything. I think it's the third goal he's scored on set plays, he's our biggest threat there and he's helping us a lot."

On getting three points: "I think we needed this one because we know the schedule we have. Arsenal, Villa, City, you have to get points where you don't expect. We missed a few chances recently and we needed it this time to go to our side."

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Mikel Arteta spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Arsenal's defeat against Bournemouth: "We started the game and a lot of the things we wanted happened.

"We should have killed the game and we didn't. On top of that if you defend your box in two set-pieces in the way we have done you're in big, big, trouble.

"We should have put the game to bed. We defended really poorly, nowhere near the standards that we are used to.

"We want to generate the momentum - we haven't. What we have created is frustration, rage and anger - we have to make sure we use that on Wednesday."

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Arsenal have dropped 21 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, their joint-most ever in a single campaign (also 21 in 2019-20).

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Arsenal's performance

What did you make of Bournemouth's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies.