Bournemouth vs Arsenal: Preview, Team News, Possible Lineups and Score Prediction

Premier League leaders Arsenal aim to kick off 2026 with a victory as they travel to the south coast to face Bournemouth on Saturday.

The Gunners ended the previous year on a high, while the Cherries are desperate to snap a prolonged winless streak.

Mikel Arteta's side delivered a statement performance in their last outing, dismantling Aston Villa 4-1. In contrast, Bournemouth showed fighting spirit but could only manage a draw against Chelsea, extending their run without a victory.

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Arsenal, who had previously lost to Unai Emery's Aston Villa, exacted their revenge in style midweek. Despite the absence of Declan Rice, the Gunners overcame a slow start, with a familiar goal from a Gabriel Magalhaes corner opening the floodgates.

Martin Zubimendi, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Jesus also found the net, solidifying Arsenal's position at the top of the table heading into the new year.

The dominant win ensured Arsenal finished 2025 with the most Premier League points (83) of any team. While Emery's post-match handshake snub garnered some attention, Arteta was focused on his team's clinical finishing. The victory was Arsenal's sixth in a row across all competitions and their fourth consecutive in the league.

However, their away form has been less consistent, with only one win in their last four league matches on the road. That sole victory came in their most recent trip against Everton. Encouragingly for the visitors, they have scored in 12 of their 13 away games this season, failing to find the net only against Liverpool back in August.

Bournemouth, meanwhile, continued their trend of entertaining but frustrating results with a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge. Andoni Iraola's side took the lead, fell behind, and then fought back to level the score, all within the first 30 minutes. The result, however, means their winless run has now stretched to ten games.

Since defeating Nottingham Forest in late October, a time when European qualification seemed a possibility, the Cherries have recorded five draws and five losses. This poor run has seen them slide down the table, though they remain a comfortable nine points clear of the relegation zone. The pressure is mounting on Iraola, and a record of just one goal in their last three home fixtures is a worrying sign, especially with Antoine Semenyo's potential departure looming.

Despite their current struggles, Bournemouth can draw confidence from their historic double over Arsenal in the 2024-25 season, which included a 2-0 win at the Vitality Stadium. However, the Gunners have scored in all eight of their other visits to the ground.

Arsenal received a boost with news that Declan Rice's knee injury, which kept him out of the Villa match, is not serious. Arteta is hopeful the midfielder will be available for the weekend. Gabriel, who appeared to suffer from cramp, is also expected to be fit. The Gunners were further strengthened by the return of Jurrien Timber, Kai Havertz, and Ben White to the matchday squad.

However, Cristhian Mosquera (ankle) and Riccardo Calafiori (unspecified) face late fitness checks. Gabriel Jesus, who scored after coming off the bench against Villa, is pushing for a starting spot ahead of Viktor Gyokeres.

For Bournemouth, manager Andoni Iraola has confirmed that winger Antoine Semenyo will be available for the match despite speculation about his future. The Cherries will be without the injured Ben Gannon-Doak (thigh), Veljko Milosavljevic (knee), and Tyler Adams (knee). Additionally, Lewis Cook (neck) and Ryan Christie (knee) will need to be assessed before the game.

The match will kick off at 8.30pm Kenyan time and will be live on SuPerSport TV.

Bournemouth XI: Petrovic; Smith, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert; Scott, Tavernier; Brooks, Kluivert, Semenyo; Evanilson

Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Jesus, Trossard

While there is speculation about Antoine Semenyo's potential transfer to Manchester City, his participation in this fixture is unlikely to alter the final outcome. The Gunners are favored to start the new year with a convincing win on the road.