Will Arsenal keep pace at the top of the table? Team News & Prediction for the Gunners' Premier League clash with Bournemouth
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Unbeaten Arsenal visit the South Coast to take on Bournemouth on Saturday, with the Gunners able to go top of the Premier League table with a win.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 19th October, 2024: UK – 5:30pm / US ET – 12:30pm / US PT – 9:30am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – NBC Sports Networks
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Sky Go / US – Fubo
BOURNEMOUTH PREVIEW: THREE DEFEATS FROM THE LAST FOUR
Although the Cherries are five points clear of the relegation zone heading into the weekend, they have lost three of their last four league games and have failed to find the net in all three of those defeats, which will be something of a concern to Andoni Iraola.
They most recently fell to a disappointing 1-0 reverse to promoted side Leicester, but they did at least win their last home games – 3-1 against Southampton.
ARSENAL PREVIEW: STILL UNBEATEN AND IN THE TITLE MIX
Mikel Arteta's title challengers were given something of a scare at home to Southampton prior to the international break, with the Gunners going behind to the Premier League strugglers. However, the hosts rallied with three second-half goals to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
With both Liverpool and Man City both in action on Sunday, Arsenal can apply pressure to their rivals by going temporarily top of the table with a win here.
BOURNEMOUTH TEAM NEWS: FULLY-FIT SQUAD
Iraola is blessed with a fully-fit squad following the news that Tyler Adams, who has been out of action since July, is ready to return to the squad.
The Cherries boss opted for Justin Kluivert in attacking midfield in the Leicester defeat but the Dutchman was withdrawn at half-time so it wouldn't be a surprise to see Dango Ouattara re-instated to the starting line-up here.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Cook, Christie; Semenyo, Tavernier, Ouattara; Evanilson
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
ARSENAL TEAM NEWS: SAKA & HAVERTZ LIKELY TO PLAY
There were some concerns around Bukayo Saka after he picked up a knock on England duty, but Arteta sounded optimistic about his chances of playing, while he was similarly upbeat about Kai Havertz' prospects despite reporting "a few issues" with the in-form German.
With options slim at full-back, Arteta is hoping that Jurrien Timber and Ben White can be available, while Oleksandr Zinchenko is also close. The only players definitively ruled out are goalkeeper Neto, who is ineligible, and Martin Odegaard who is still recovering from an ankle injury he sustained while playing for Norway in the September international window.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Saka, Partey, Rice, Sterling; Havertz, Jesus
UNAVAILABLE: Neto (Ineligible), Odegaard (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Timber (Injured), White (Injured), Tierney (Injured), Zinchenko (Injured), Saka (Injured), Martinelli (Fatigue), Havertz (Injured)
BOURNEMOUTH VS ARSENAL PREDICTION
Having lost three of their last four, Iraola will not be relishing this fixture against an Arsenal team who are yet to taste defeat this season.
Gunners coach Arteta's chief complaint of late will be the fact that their usually watertight defence have shipped goals to promoted sides Leicester and Southampton in their last two league fixtures, so he will be urging his men to be a little more solid here and restrict Bournemouth's opportunities. Should they succeed, a win to nil is highly likely.
BOURNEMOUTH VS ARSENAL TIP: ARSENAL TO WIN TO NIL
