Bournemouth vs Arsenal Prediction 3 January 2026
🔊 How much longer will Bournemouth remain winless? The Cherries haven't tasted victory since October, and breaking this dry spell in the 20th round will be a tough task as they face Arsenal. According to the bookmakers, the stands at the Vitality Stadium won't be enough to help the hosts secure points. However, let's not forget that the Gunners' last visit here ended in defeat. Could another upset be on the cards?
Head-to-Head
📊 Last season, Bournemouth completely dominated Arsenal, defeating them not only at home (2-0) but also at the Emirates (2-1). Interestingly, in 3 of the last 4 encounters between these teams, the bet on both teams to score (no) came through. Are we expecting goals to come from just one side again?
Head-to-head statistics Bournemouth - Arsenal
Bournemouth Team Overview
Andoni Iraola's team continues to grapple with a crisis. We're used to seeing them at the top of the table, but right now the Cherries are sitting in 15th place. However, there are positives to be found - they've suffered only one defeat in their last five matches. During this stretch, Bournemouth managed to hold Chelsea to two draws (0-0; 2-2), which ultimately led to Enzo Maresca's dismissal.
It's impressive how many chances the Red and Blacks are creating. Even in their disappointing loss against Brentford (1-4), they generated an expected goals tally of three, and in the recent encounter with Chelsea, it wasn't much lower (2.73). Bournemouth are strong up front, so Iraola's primary focus should be on tightening up their defense.
Match Results: Bournemouth
Arsenal Team Overview
Matchday 19 was pivotal for Arsenal, as Mikel Arteta's side extended their lead over two title rivals. This was made possible by Manchester City's slip-up and the Gunners' impressive 4-1 victory over Aston Villa.
The Birmingham side were on the brink of a historic winning streak, but Arsenal's players had other priorities. For the first time since November, they scored more than three goals in a game, creating chances worth 3.37 expected goals. Even Gabriel Jesus found the net, marking his first goal after nearly a year recovering from an ACL injury. However, the standout performer was Leandro Trossard, who notched a goal and an assist. The Belgian is Arsenal's unsung hero, leading the team in both goals and assists this season (7+6).
Match Results: Arsenal
Latest news
Bournemouth
🎙 Andoni Iraola on the draw against Chelsea: "This is a draw I would have accepted before the match. Playing away at Chelsea is never easy. However, I believe we created more dangerous chances. We performed better in the first half and should have won it," the Spanish coach stated.
⭐️ Antoine Semenyo is highly likely to join Manchester City and has already bid farewell to Bournemouth fans. Nonetheless, Andoni Iraola mentioned in the pre-match press conference that the Ghanaian will play against Arsenal.
❌ Ben Doak, Tyler Adams, and Veljko Milosavljevic have been sidelined for an extended period. Recently, Ryan Christie and Lewis Cook picked up injuries. Christie will definitely miss the clash against Arsenal, while Cook's availability will be assessed later.
Arsenal
🎙 Mikel Arteta: "Our current position in the standings is something we can be pleased with. But there's always room for improvement. There are always aspects that need fine-tuning, that's clear. Right now, our sole focus is on the match against Bournemouth. We understand how challenging it is for any opponent to beat them."
⚡️ Former footballer and now pundit Paul Merson sees Arsenal as the frontrunner for the title: "Looking at Arsenal, considering their away matches already played and their result against Aston Villa, I don't know who can stop them. Apart from Manchester City, they play all the strong teams at home in such a way that makes them very hard to stop. I think they'll win the Premier League quite comfortably."
❌ According to Mikel Arteta, Cristian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori are still not ready to return to the pitch. Additionally, Declan Rice has a swollen knee, so the midfielder's participation in the upcoming game is in doubt.
🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards
While Arsenal rarely pick up yellow cards at home, their away average is a notable 2.11. Still, in 7 of their last 8 Premier League away matches, there have been fewer than 4.5 yellow cards shown. Moreover, head-to-head clashes between the Gunners and Bournemouth aren't known for a flurry of bookings-more than two yellow cards were recorded in just 1 of their last 7 encounters. To wrap up with the referee's stats: Chris Kavanagh, who will officiate the upcoming match, averages 3.9 yellow cards per game this Premier League season.
⚽️ Goal Prediction
In 6 of their last 7 Premier League home matches against the Gunners, Bournemouth have conceded after the break-a troubling trend for the Cherries. It's particularly concerning given Mikel Arteta's side's knack for scoring in the second half, having done so in 12 of their last 13 games! The statistics suggest that Arsenal will score in the second half.
🚩 Corner Prediction
Despite a dip in results, the Cherries remain among the league leaders in corners won, averaging 5.74 per game. Yes, Arsenal are a formidable opponent, but in 6 of their last 7 meetings at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth have delivered more than 3.5 corners. We expect the hosts to meet their usual quota.
Editor's Prediction
Both teams delivered goal-fests in the previous round and are quite capable of doing so again in their head-to-head clash. Especially considering that the over 2.5 goals mark has been surpassed in 6 of the last 7 encounters between Bournemouth and Arsenal. We suggest this as the main bet, given the high attacking potential of both sides. As for the result, our editorial team sees a hard-fought victory for the Gunners, with a scoreline of 2-1 as the most likely outcome.
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Betting Tips: Bournemouth - Arsenal
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