On your marks, get set… pray! The starting gun for the Premier League run-in will sound this lunchtime at the Emirates, where most of the crowd will be pleading for a stress-free victory over Bournemouth. It’s easy to forget, given all the recent negativity, that Arsenal’s last Premier League game ended with one of the most euphoric moments of the entire season – the joyous celebration of Max Dowman’s clinching goal against Everton. 

That game was almost a month ago. During the Premier League’s spring break Arsenal went out of both domestic cup competitions and Manchester City produced arguably their two best performances of the season to beat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final and thrash Liverpool in the FA Cup.

Arsenal’s short-term priority is to keep the title out of Manchester City’s hands. They are nine points ahead clear with seven games to play, though City have a game in a hand. If Arsenal win today, their trip to the Etihad next Sunday will remain a free hit, or at least a freeish hit. Victory over Bournemouth would also increase the pressure on City ahead their match at Stamford Bridge tomorrow. 

“The closer we get, the relevance and importance of the match increases, obviously, and tomorrow is a big day for us,” said Mikel Arteta, who went on to inadvertently reference the legendary former Orient manager John Sitton. “The players know it, our supporters know it, it’s early kick-off, so get up early, have an early breakfast, bring your lunch, bring your dinner, as you say in England, and let’s go all together for it because it has to be a big day.”

It has to be. Because if Arsenal fail to beat Bournemouth, a drama may turn into a crisis. 

Kick off 12.30pm.