Arsenal don't need too much extra motivation going into their Premier League clash with Bournemouth, but the fact that they play after rivals Manchester City for the first time since the two met just over a couple of weeks ago could provide an extra carrot. Mikel Arteta's side was willing to admit that his side would be watching City' game unfold in the build up to their own game this weekend.
"We are looking at the games for sure when they’re live before that," the Spaniard said in his pre-match press conference. "It can become a stimulus. But I don’t think there’s need for extra motivation. We know the difficulty of the challenge, we are looking forward to it, and we go game, by game."
The Gunners will go into the game knowing whether they have the chance to open up an eight point gap at the top of the table, or whether they will simply be trying to preserve the five point lead they already have. Regardless of the circumstances, it's vital for Arteta to get his team selection right.
