Match Preview for Bournemouth v Arsenal
Arsenal have reached the turn in front and will now aim to move away from the chasing pack and secure their first Premier League title since 2003.
The Gunners start the year with a four-point advantage at the top of the table but history is not on their side, having failed to land the crown the last five times they have started January at the summit.
Mikel Arteta has assembled a strong squad, however, that appears deep enough to tackle the congested fixture list while the Spaniard has not dismissed the idea of bolstering his options further in the January window.
Arsenal had not been at their best – with single-goal and occasionally nervy wins against Wolves, Everton and Brighton – prior to Tuesday’s clash with title rivals Aston Villa but they moved through the gears to register a hugely impressive 4-1 win.
“It was very good against tough opposition, to perform and win in the manner that we did,” said Arteta on Friday. “Great. The focus is now on Bournemouth. We know how tough it is going to be, tomorrow’s game, and everybody’s at it.”
Arsenal have lost just twice over the first half of the season but Arteta is demanding more.
He added: “We are still in early January so we have another five months to go and we have to do much more.”
Bournemouth are on a dismal run which has seen them fail to win since October.
They have also had to contend with the impending departure of star winger Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City.
The Ghana international will play against Arsenal, though.
Cherries boss Andoni Iraola said: “I think the idea at least is that he’s going to be available for these two games that we have in a very short turnaround. I hope he can be here more time but I don’t know what is going to happen.”
“There is nothing signed. There are conversations and I understand a lot of the noise around but there is nothing signed. Antoine is our player and we want to keep him.”
Team News for Bournemouth v Arsenal
Bournemouth won’t have full-back Julian Araujo available after he completed a loan move to Celtic.
Defenders Cristhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori will miss out for Arsenal due to injury while England midfielder Declan Rice is also a major doubt.
Rice sat out the win over Villa with a knee problem and, asked if the swelling in the joint had subsided, Arteta said: “Not yet. We have another session today. Let’s see how he comes through today and how he’s feeling, but it was too early that game for him.”
Germany forward Kai Havertz returned from a serious knee injury as an unused substitute against Villa and he can now compete for a starting spot with other striking options Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus.
Predicted line-ups for Bournemouth v Arsenal
Bournemouth: Petrovic; Smith, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert; Tavernier, Scott, Brooks, Kluivert, Semenyo; Evanilson
Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Merino; Saka, Trossard, Gyokeres
How to watch Bournemouth v Arsenal: TV and online streams
Bournemouth v Arsenal kicks off at 5.30pm UK time tomorrow tea-time. It can be watched on Sky Sports Main Event and streamed via the Sky Go app.
For foreign listings, click here.
Stats for Bournemouth v Arsenal
- Bournemouth did the double over Arsenal last season
- Arsenal have only failed to score in one of their 16 Premier League games against Bournemouth
- Bournemouth have lost 12 of their 13 Premier League games against sides starting the day top of the table, with the exception being a 2-1 home win over Manchester City in November 2024