BETTING GUIDE: Bournemouth Vs Arsenal, match preview, team news and betting tip
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Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 02.01.26. | 20:10
Both sides enter the game on different positions in the table, and with contrasting momentum
Bournemouth begin the new year with a daunting Premier League assignment as they welcome leaders Arsenal to the Vitality Stadium on Saturday evening.
The match, part of Matchday 20 of the Premier League, kicks off as 2026 gets underway, with both sides entering from very different positions in the table and with contrasting momentum.
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Bournemouth come into this fixture searching for a much-needed return to winning ways.
They currently sit in the lower mid-table, having gone ten league matches without a victory since late October.
Their most recent outing was an entertaining 2–2 draw away at Chelsea, where all four goals arrived inside the opening 30 minutes.
Across their last five league matches, the Cherries have scored eight goals and conceded eleven, underlining both their attacking intent and defensive fragility.
At home, the situation has been equally frustrating, with no wins in their last four league games at the Vitality Stadium, drawing three and losing one.
Despite being relatively clear of the relegation zone, the pressure is building as results have dipped sharply since their promising early-season run.
Team news for Bournemouth is relatively stable.
There are no major fresh injury concerns, and Antoine Semenyo is expected to feature despite strong speculation linking him with a move away.
His pace and directness remain key to Bournemouth’s attacking threat, especially with the hosts having scored just once in their last three home league matches.
David Brooks also impressed last time out with an early goal against Chelsea and remains an important creative outlet.
Arsenal travel south sitting top of the Premier League table and firmly in the title race.
They ended 2025 in emphatic fashion with a 4-1 home win over Aston Villa, extending their league winning run to four matches.
Over their last five league games, the Gunners have scored 10 goals and conceded just five, reflecting both efficiency in attack and improved defensive balance.
However, their away form has shown slight vulnerability, with just one win in their last four league trips, alongside two draws and a defeat.
Despite that, Arsenal remain one of the most consistent travelling sides in the division, having scored in 12 of their 13 away matches in all competitions this season.
Declan Rice remains a doubt after picking up a knee injury, but Mikel Arteta still has plenty of depth, with players like Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard and Leandro Trossard in strong form. Trossard, in particular, has developed a habit of making decisive contributions late in games, which could be crucial against a Bournemouth side that often fades after the interval.
Historically, this fixture has favoured Arsenal.
Although Bournemouth completed a rare league double over the Gunners last season, Arsenal have won 13 of the last 18 meetings overall and four of their last six visits to the Vitality Stadium.
Goals have generally been a feature in this matchup, especially when Arsenal are chasing points at the top end of the table.
Key Betting Pointers;
Bournemouth are winless in ten league matches, conceding in eight of those games.
Arsenal have won four consecutive Premier League fixtures.
Arsenal possess the league’s strongest second-half record this season.
Arsenal have kept the most clean sheets in the competition(9).
Bournemouth’s willingness to play open football should create moments, but Arsenal’s superior quality, depth, and second-half strength are likely to tell. With the title race tight at the top, the Gunners cannot afford a slow start to 2026 and should have enough firepower to secure all three points.
Prediction; Arsenal to Win
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