Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have the opportunity to start 2026 by establishing a commanding six-point gap at the Premier League summit when they face Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium this evening.
Gunners Riding High After Villa Statement
Following a patchy run of form, Arsenal delivered a powerful title declaration in their final match of 2025, dismantling direct rivals Aston Villa in a 4-1 victory. That result, coupled with Manchester City's surprise 0-0 draw at Sunderland on New Year's Day, has handed the Gunners a golden chance to pull clear at the top.
A win on the south coast would see Arsenal move six points ahead of their nearest challengers, providing significant early-year momentum in the championship chase.
Cherries Desperate to End Dire Run
For the home side, the fixture represents a formidable challenge to halt a dismal sequence. Bournemouth are mired in an 11-game winless streak that has seen them slide down to 15th place in the table. Manager Andoni Iraola will be hoping his side can find a response against the league leaders to ease their relegation concerns.
Team News and Predicted Line-Ups
The major doubt for the visitors surrounds midfielder Declan Rice, who missed the win over Villa with knee swelling and remains a fitness question. Defenders Christhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori are still unavailable, but Gabriel and Jurrien Timber are expected to start in defence.
For Bournemouth, Antoine Semenyo is confirmed to start, but the club is without Ben Gannon-Goak, Tyler Adams, and Veljko Milosavljevic. Lewis Cook and Ryan Christie are both considered 50/50 to be involved.
The predicted line-ups are:
- Bournemouth: Petrovic; Smith, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert; Scott, Tavernier; Brooks, Kluivert, Semenyo; Evanilson.
- Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Merino, Odegaard; Saka, Trossard, Gyokeres.
How to Watch the Match
The Premier League encounter kicks off at 5:30pm GMT on Saturday, 3 January 2026 at the Vitality Stadium. In the UK, the match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage beginning at 4:30pm. Subscribers can also stream the action via Sky Go.
Viewers without a Sky subscription can purchase a NOWTV Day Pass to access the coverage.
