FOLLOWING Monday’s FA Cup defeat to Arsenal, the full focus for the next four months is crystal clear for Cherries – find a way to extend their top-flight stay into a sixth season.

Just 14 games will now decide the fate of Eddie Howe’s side, who climbed a place to 18th in the Premier League table with a key victory over Brighton last week.

But an equally monumental tussle is just around the corner in the shape of in-form Aston Villa. The Villans, who are just two points above Cherries, have seen an untimely upturn in fortunes – from the perspective of the Dorset club – with three wins and two draws since the turn of the year.

Among those triumphs have been two last-gasp winning goals from Tyrone Mings in a crucial 2-1 league victory over Watford, which lifted them out of the relegation zone, followed by Trezeguet’s late strike to win by the same score against Leicester this week, to book a spot in next month’s Carabao Cup Wembley final.

The mood around Villa Park could not be more buoyant.

For Cherries, a rocking atmosphere at Vitality Stadium following the win over Brighton was quickly brought back down to earth against a vibrant Gunners side.

Howe was understandably annoyed with his side’s slow start, admitting he let his players know at half-time their display was “way below the level we expect”.

The hosts responded well, pulling a late goal back through Sam Surridge, but unlike Villa, that stoppage-time strike rounded off a 2-1 defeat, not victory.

Although Howe named an experienced side to face Arsenal, one eye would no doubt have been on Saturday’s visit of Dean Smith’s men as he made six changes from the win over the Seagulls.

Asked about the upcoming clash with Villa, Howe told the Daily Echo: “We know how big this game is.

“I don’t think we need to build it up internally. The lads know the importance of the games we have to come.”

But who, if anyone, made a strong enough claim on Monday to force their way back into the side for the weekend?

Howe’s options are largely limited due to a string of fitness concerns.

Aaron Ramsdale, man-of-the-match against Brighton, will return in goal while the club’s first-choice back-four is almost back in full working order.

Adam Smith, Steve Cook and Nathan Ake all completed the full contest against the Gunners and will be expected to start again. Diego Rico should return ahead of Jack Simpson at left-back, providing he recovers from the knock which kept him out against Arsenal.

If that back five does indeed make the side, it will be just the second time they have all started together since November – the other coming at Norwich, where Cook was sent off in the first half.

In midfield the fitness of Philip Billing will be key after the Dane suffered a back injury whilst taking a shot during the warm-up against Arsenal and had to pull out of the squad.

The failed experiment of using Lewis Cook on the left flank against the Gunners should see Ryan Fraser and Harry Wilson retain their spots. Callum Wilson, who finally broke his top-flight scoring duck against Brighton, would expect to lead the line, while Jefferson Lerma is a shoo-in, if fit enough after a minor knee problem.

That leaves two vacancies to fill in the side. Billing and Dominic Solanke started against the Seagulls, but two players who did catch the eye against Arsenal may feel they have done enough to take those spots.

If Billing is ruled out, the go-to alternatives this season have been Lewis Cook or Dan Gosling. Despite Gosling’s vital goals in December, his form has tailed off in recent weeks, while Cook has not been able to nail down a regular spot in central midfield this campaign.

One man who has not let Howe down this season is Andrew Surman. Howe sung the praises of the 33-year-old again last week and his composed display against the Gunners should put him in the frame to start again on Saturday, with a potential partnership alongside Lerma offering balance.

Meanwhile, Solanke took plenty of flak from pundits for his display against Arsenal as his struggle for goals continues – the 22-year-old has bagged just once in more than a year at the club.

Confidence has understandably suffered a dip among the squad during the recent struggles of 11 defeats in 15, but one member of the group who has never felt better is Surridge.

The academy graduate made an instant impact against the Gunners, coming off the bench to score his first senior goal for the club. As impressive as Solanke’s link play was against Brighton, the impact of regular losses in recent weeks should not be underestimated, something Surridge has been immune to having been part of a side regularly winning matches during a loan spell at Swansea.

Throwing him in for a start on Saturday would be a big step, but having a confident striker in the team, who has now shown he can find the net for the club, is certainly something to be considered.