Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent
Image source, Getty ImagesArsenal 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.
Image source, Getty ImagesWe 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.
Image source, Getty ImagesMany 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.
Image source, Getty ImagesMartin 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?
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.
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.
Image source, Getty ImagesWe 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!
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer 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
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:
Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty ImagesArsenal 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.
Image source, Getty ImagesAndoni 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."
Image source, Getty ImagesMikel 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."
Image source, Getty ImagesArsenal 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.
Five matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.
Aston Villa v Fulham (12:30)
Everton v Ipswich Town - BBC Radio 5 Live
Leicester City v Southampton
Arsenal v Bournemouth (17:30) - BBC Radio 5 Live
Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated
We know how dangerous Bournemouth are because they beat Arsenal in October, and if Mikel Arteta rests players then this game becomes even harder for the Gunners.
It is a tricky situation for Arteta, because he will want to head to Paris St-Germain for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with a bit of momentum, but he has got to balance that with the risk of injury to his key players.
Bournemouth's form has improved of late, and the circumstances mean they definitely have a decent chance of doing the double over Arsenal this season.
This all boils down to what the Arsenal team is, so it is difficult to make a call without knowing that, but they are at home and even if they are not at full strength then I can still see them getting a draw.
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
England defender Kyle Walker speaks to former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown about the rise of Arsenal full-back Myles Lewis-Skelly, and the former Tottenham team-mate he reminds him of.
Listen to the full episode of The Kyle Walker Podcast on BBC Sounds
Image source, PA MediaEarlier, we asked you to name the current Arsenal player from a series of clues.
The correct answer is William Saliba.
Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium (kick-off 17:30 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
He said he will "assess how the squad is on Saturday and see who I have available to start and as subs", but Thomas Partey is likely to play after serving his European suspension.
Riccardo Calafiori remains unavailable, as do Jorginho and Kai Havertz.
Arteta would not say what Jorginho's injury is but said it has been "more complicated than expected" so that is why he has been absent for longer than planned.
He hopes to have Jorginho and Havertz back before the end of the season but it will depend on their rehabilitation going to plan.
On how proud he is of what Arsenal have achieved this season despite one of the worst injury records in the league: "I was very shocked just before the game at PSG at home. I saw Takehiro Tomiyasu, Calafiori, Partey, Gabriel, Gabriel Jesus and Jorginho all together in the dressing room. That could have been a starting line-up and we don't have them, and we haven't for months. No-one is talking about it in the building, but that's happening. I am proud of them."
He said Liverpool winning the title hurts him "big time" but he praised Arne Slot's side for their consistency, before adding that they "deserved it".
On their being a 99.6% chance of a top-five finish according to the Opta 'supercomputer': "The message is very clear. We have to earn the right to win the game tomorrow and be better than Bournemouth. The only thing we can control is our performances and emotional state. We haven't achieved what we wanted [in the league]."
He praised Declan Rice for "consistency in the way he has performed and adapted to the team and to the club" in what could be his 100th appearance for Arsenal. Arteta added: "An unbelievable signing."
Listen to live commentary of Arsenal vs Bournemouth on BBC Radio 5 Live at 17:30 on Saturday
Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news
