Winless Bournemouth host title-chasing Arsenal in a huge Premier League clash at the Vitality Stadium.
Victory would see Bournemouth go as high as 13th depending upon results elsewhere, whilst a win could lift Arsenal up to second if Brighton fail to win in the early kick-off.
Team News
Dominic Solanke is a doubt for Bournemouth after he suffered an ankle injury during their Carabao Cup win over Stoke in midweek.
Lloyd Kelly, Ryan Fredericks (both calf), Chris Mepham (knock), Emiliano Marcondes (foot) and Alex Scott (knee) remain absent.
Arsenal could be without William Saliba and Fabio Vieira after they missed the Gunners’ win over Brentford in the Carabao Cup with knocks.
Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard (both hamstring), Bukayo Saka (foot), Declan Rice (back)
Jurrien Timber (knee) and Thomas Partey (groin) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Bournemouth host Arsenal at the Vitality Stadium in a 3pm BST kick-off on Saturday 30 September, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Bournemouth have claimed just one point in their last six league meetings against Arsenal (D1, L5).
- Arsenal have lost just one of their last five trips to Bournemouth (W2, D2, L1).
- Mikel Arteta’s Gunners scored three goals in both meetings against Bournemouth last season (W2).
- Bournemouth have taken two points from three home games this season (D2, L1), which have coincidentally all been against London-based opposition.
- Arsenal have won each of their two away games by 1-0 results this season at Crystal Palace and Everton respectively, with both goals scored in the second half.
Prediction
Having failed to win any of their opening six league games, Bournemouth just don’t seem to be clicking with yet more defensive mistakes in their defeat at Brighton last weekend where they blew an one-goal lead for the third time this season.
Their Carabao Cup win over Stoke however has to be a platform to build upon here because if they revert to their league form here, Bournemouth might just be in bother if not solid at the back.
Arsenal meanwhile certainly were made to scrap for their 2-2 draw in the North London derby last weekend despite dominating large chunks of the game, although they did mount a brilliant response to clinically beat Brentford in midweek with a resilient defensive effort.
In fact that win is even more impressive considering their injury crisis with key players like Martinelli, Rice, and Saka sidelined, and I can see them winning this game if play with the same defensive solidness and clinical attack even if the injured players don’t return.
Prediction: Bournemouth 0-2 Arsenal
Result: Bournemouth 0-4 Arsenal