Kluivert says Bournemouth delivering on promise ahead of Villa tussle

After goals from Dean Huijsen and Evanilson fired them to a surprise 2-1 win over Arsenal on Saturday, Bournemouth sit eighth in the Premier League table with three games remaining.

Should Manchester City beat Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final next week, eighth place will almost certainly be enough for Europa Conference League qualification.

Kluivert, who leads all Bournemouth players for goals (12) and assists (six) in the Premier League this campaign, joined the Cherries from Roma in 2023.

And he believes Andoni Iraola's side are making good on the promise they showed when he first decided to move to the Premier League.

"They came to me, and they knew what they wanted, they didn't sell me lies," Kluivert told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"They sold me this and they gave it to me. They sold me many more other things and they backed it up. I did my part, they did their part, and I think it's a very good match.

"If you are in the youth of Ajax, you are thinking about playing in the Premier League,

"The Premier League – for footballers – is the best competition there is. That will stay for always, and I am thankful to be here."

Remembering the first hat-trick of penalties in @premierleague history on his birthday Hope you have a great day, Justin pic.twitter.com/TGw2YAANgt

— AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) May 5, 2025

Villa, meanwhile, are chasing a top-five finish and a second successive season in the Champions League, and a positive week has boosted their hopes.

With Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest slipping up last weekend, Villa are three points off the top five with three games remaining, though right-back Matty Cash feels they may need maximum points.

"It was a massive win," Cash told VillaTV after Unai Emery's men beat Fulham 1-0. "We needed it, to be fair.

"It's always tough playing against Fulham, they're a good team and we made the gap a little bit bigger. We had to be focused, we had to be resilient all game.

"We were delighted with the win. We've got three big games and hopefully we can go on and try to win all of them."

Semenyo has been directly involved in three goals in his last four Premier League games for Bournemouth (two goals, one assist).

His two goals have put the Cherries 1-0 up in their last two home games (versus Fulham and Manchester United), while his assist came just two minutes after coming off the bench against Arsenal last time out.

Literally, a HUGE moment from @antoinesemenyo1 pic.twitter.com/3jEicTbRav

— AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) May 6, 2025

Watkins has been directly involved in five goals in his four Premier League starts versus Bournemouth (one goal, four assists), with his four assists against the Cherries his most against any opponent.

Bournemouth lost 1-0 at home to Villa in their first-ever Premier League match in August 2015. Since then, the Cherries are unbeaten in three at home to the Villans, scoring exactly two goals in each (W2 D1).

However, Villa are unbeaten in their last four Premier League games against Bournemouth (W2 D2), having lost four in a row against the Cherries before this.

And after a run of just six wins in 21 Premier League games between September and February (D9 L6), Villa have now won seven of their last nine (L2).

But they face a tough test against another in-form side hunting European football.

Bournemouth are unbeaten in their last five Premier League games (W2 D3), having lost four of their previous five beforehand (D1).

Following their 2-1 win at Arsenal last time out, the Cherries are looking to win consecutive league games for the first time since January.

Bournemouth – 39.9%

Aston Villa – 35.6%