The hosts are going to be under pressure, and the Gunners will be keen to use it to their advantage. Arsenal are likely to come out on top. They should secure a win against Bournemouth in their upcoming Premier League contest
Match info: Premier League
Venue: Vitality Stadium, Dorset
Date: Saturday, 3rd January 2026
Time: 6:30 pm Nigerian time
Having ended 2025 as they mean to start 2026, Premier League leaders Arsenal head south to tackle Bournemouth on Saturday, in their inaugural fixture of the New Year.
The Gunners ran riot in a 4-1 battering of Aston Villa in their midweek affair, while the Cherries' valiant efforts against Chelsea were not enough to snap their winless sequence.
Head-to-head:
- Bournemouth have won three of the 16 Premier League meetings between two team teams.
- Arsenal recorded 11 victories.
- The remaining two clashes ended in draws.
- Arsenal have won four of their last five matches.
- Bournemouth have failed to secure a win in their last five games.
- Only one of the last five fixtures between these clubs has ended in a draw.
- Their last nine encounters produced at least two goals.
Form:
- Bournemouth in the league: D-D-D-L-D
- Bournemouth in all competitions: D-D-D-L-D
- Arsenal in the league: L-W-W-W-W
- Arsenal in all competitions: W-W-W-W-W
Team News:
- Bournemouth will be without the services of Ben Gannon Doak, Tyler Adams and Veljko Milosavljevic. They are not match fit. Ryan Christie, Matai Akinmboni and Lewis Cook are likely to miss out due to fitness issues.
- Declan Rice, Cristhian Mosquera and Max Dowman are not going to be in action for Arsenal. They are injured. Riccardo Calafiori might also miss out due to a lack of fitness.
Player(s) to watch:
- Antoine Semenyo is going to be one of the main men in the attacking front for AFC Bournemouth. He will be looking to step up his game so that he can help his side stand a chance against the in-form Arsenal. In 18 Premier League games this season, he has scored nine goals and has three assists to his name.
- Martin Zubimendi continues to perform well for the Gunners in the midfield. The 26-year-old is good at regulating the ball well in the midfield and can score goals as well. He is coming in after scoring one of the goals in the previous league contest against Aston Villa. He is going to be a continuous threat with the ball at his feet.