Arsenal travel to Bournemouth to open their 2026 schedule. The Gunners sit atop the Premier League table, four points clear of Manchester City after Pep Guardiola’s side dropped points against Sunderland. Bournemouth were second to start November, but since then, they’ve slid down the table to 15th. The Cherries can be a tricky side, but these are three points the Gunners need to pick up.
Bournemouth were the only club to manage a Premier League double against Arsenal last season, which I’m sure everyone
at London Colney remembers. This particular fixture last season turned on VAR upgrading William Saliba’s yellow card to straight red for DOGSO on a foul committed 40+ yards from the Arsenal goal, an on-field decision they had no business getting involved with. It was a textbook example of re-refereeing the game, which we’ve explicitly been told is not the purpose of VAR, and (another) case where “clear and obvious error” was shown to be nothing more than a phrase of convenience with no actual meaning.
Enough about last season and enough of my lingering saltiness. Right now, Bournemouth are struggling. Andoni Iraola’s side are winless in their last 10 matches. For what it’s worth, they’ve drawn half of those games and scored plenty of goals. They don’t have issues going forward. They’re a top-half club in almost all attacking metrics and have taken the third-most shots of any club. They’ve scored the most goals (7) on the break, too. The Cherries still play a high-energy, high-pressing style and look to get the ball up the pitch quickly.
Bournemouth’s problems are at the other end of the pitch. That’s what can happen when you sell three of your four starting defenders — Milos Kerkez to Liverpool, Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid, and Ilya Zabarnyi to PSG. The Cherries have conceded the fourth most goals in the PL and allowed the third most xG against. They have the worst aerial duel win rate in the league and have conceded the second most headed goals.
None of those stats line up well against an Arsenal side that have been generating plenty of chances of late, have scored the most headed goals, and the most set piece goals in the PL. The test will be how Arsenal, likely without the athleticism and defensive coverage provided by Declan Rice, handle Bournemouth in transition.
The Arsenal midfielder faces a late fitness test to determine his availability after knee swelling kept him out against Aston Villa. If he’s available, it’s likely to only be off the bench. Arsenal will be without Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera. Little is known about the Italian’s injury, but the current reporting is that it is expected to be a short-term rather than long-term absence. The Ecuadorian is out for several more weeks with an ankle injury. Youngster Max Dowman is out until at least February, too.
Bournemouth will be without Ben Gannon-Doak, Velijko Milosavljevic, Ryan Christie and Tyler Adams. Lewis Cook faces a late fitness test. Antoine Semenyo, who has been heavily linked with a January transfer to Manchester City, is available for selection.
Lineups will be posted when available.
WHO: Arsenal at AFC Bournemouth
WHERE: Vitality Stadium
WHEN: Saturday, January 3rd 9:30 am PT | 12:30 pm ET | 5:30 pm GMT
HOW TO WATCH: Broadcast on NBC. Streaming on Peacock.
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