PL: Bournemouth v Arsenal

We’re On To 2026…

With 2025 in the rearview mirror, Arsenal enter the new year atop the Premier League. First up is a trip to Bournemouth to face The Cherries. Mikel Arteta will be seeking his fifth win in a row in the league, while Andoni Iraola’s side are winless in their last ten domestic matches. With a visit from Liverpool on the horizon, The Gunners will need to stay focused on the match in front of them and secure the three points.

Bournemouth sit in fifteenth place. Their most recent result was a 2-2 draw with Chelsea. Adding to their slump, star man Antoine Semenyo appears close to joining Manchester City. His status for this match is undecided. Bournemouth will still have confidence they can spring a surprise here after securing six points against Arsenal last campaign. Despite the cloud over Semenyo, bright spots in The Cherries’ attack include Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson. Tyler Adams will miss the match with a ligament injury and will be a miss in midfield.

For Arsenal, it’s been a season of righting wrongs, and Bournemouth is no different. Having lost at Vitality Stadium in 24/25, the Arsenal squad will view this as a necessary three points to gain. Coming off a 4-1 hammering of Aston Villa, The Gunners’ attack appears to be clicking at the right time. After a star display on Tuesday, Martin Ødegaard will be the man to watch, while late fitness tests await Declan Rice and Riccardo Calafiori. Gabriel Jesus, who scored his first goal in a year last match, will hope for the opportunity to impress once again.

Will this be another past slip-up rectified for Arsenal? Or will The Cherries prove stubborn opposition yet again? Join us at Dillon’s on Saturday afternoon for the match, and we can start the year off right!

VCC


UTA

KEEP THE FAITH ✊