Arsenal are back the road to the south coast to play AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. So, here is everything you need to know as the Gunners take on the Cherries.

This week sees two sides at other ends of the top-flight table clash in search of three points. Arsenal have fallen to fifth in the standings after drawing 2-2 with Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby. While Bournemouth are down in 17th and are without a win this term.

Andoni Iraola’s side only sit outside of the relegation zone on three points from six games so far this season. The Cherries have held West Ham United, Brentford and Chelsea to draws in 2023/24. But they have also lost 3-1 to Liverpool and Brighton, plus 2-0 against Tottenham.

It will be some feat for Iraola to now claim his first Premier League win when Bournemouth host Arsenal. The Cherries have only beaten the Gunners once in their previous 14 games in all competitions. Eddie Howe guided a 2-1 come-from-behind win at home in January 2018.

Arsenal have won six of their seven games against Bournemouth since, including five in the Premier League. William Saliba’s sensational strike also helped Mikel Arteta claim a 3-0 win at Dean Court last term. So, here is everything you need to know ahead of this week’s game.

When is AFC Bournemouth vs Arsenal?

The Premier League has scheduled the matchweek seven encounter between Bournemouth and Arsenal for Saturday, September 30, 2023. Kick-off at Dean Court will also be at 15:00.

How to follow AFC Bournemouth vs Arsenal

Neither Sky Sports nor TNT Sports has selected the Cherries and Gunners’ clash for live TV broadcast in the UK. But UK fans can follow Bournemouth and Arsenal’s game through live audio-only radio commentary on talkSPORT. Coverage will begin at 14:30 ahead of kick-off.

Live stream of AFC Bournemouth vs Arsenal

Arsenal also provide a live text stream of their fixtures, including their trip to Bournemouth, on the club’s official website. The Gunners’ play-by-play stream details all of the key events.

Arsenal team and injury news

Bournemouth will host a heavily depleted Arsenal team this Saturday after Arteta confirmed that several players are injury doubts. Emile Smith Rowe was their latest player to sustain an issue. He came off early in Wednesday’s 1-0 Carabao Cup win over Brentford having started.

Arteta opted to take Smith Rowe off in the final stages to limit the severity of the injury and to manage his minutes. The 23-year-old has suffered frequent issues of late and only played 195 minutes last term. While their third-round tie moved him to 106 for this season thus far.

Smith Rowe’s injury saw him join a number of Arsenal players receiving treatment at London Colney ahead of visiting Bournemouth. Declan Rice came off at half-time against Tottenham with his back injury. While Bukayo Saka also took a heavy knock to his foot at home to Spurs.

Arsenal’s concerns have eased and Rice should recover from his injury to face Bournemouth, according to The Guardian. But Arteta admitted before their trip to Brentford in the Carabao Cup that Saka is a doubt to face Bournemouth. The forward could not train due to his injury.

Arteta will hope to have Leandro Trossard back from his hamstring injury when Arsenal head to the seaside, though. The attacker missed the north London derby and would have started after hitting the winner at Everton. He replaced Gabriel Martinelli after the Brazilian’s injury.

Likewise, Martinelli suffered a hamstring injury and might not return until after the October international break. Thomas Partey, similarly, may not return from his groin injury before the break in domestic action. But the Mirror reports he may face Manchester City on October 8.

No return remains in sight for Jurrien Timber, however, with the Dutchman set to miss most of the season. Arteta lost his star summer signing from AFC Ajax on his Premier League bow at home to Nottingham Forest. Timber suffered an ACL injury and that necessitated surgery.

Prediction: AFC Bournemouth (0) vs (2) Arsenal

Returns from injury for Saka and Rice at Bournemouth will strengthen Arsenal’s chances of a result this weekend. Arteta does not have a suitable replacement for either player. Jorginho came on for Rice against Tottenham and started at Brentford but struggled in both matches.

Jorginho’s error let Son Heung-Min score when James Maddison mobbed the Italian for the ball. Spurs simply overran the 31-year-old throughout the second half. Arsenal also needed more from Jorginho in the second half at Brentford when the Bees pushed for an equaliser.

Reiss Nelson took his chance to shine in the Carabao Cup, though, and may stand in for Saka at Dean Court. The forward scored the Gunners’ only goal at the Gtech Community Stadium. But his overall play at the Bees showed Arteta that he can offer a hard-working wide threat.

Bournemouth know the sort of threat Nelson can produce, too, after scoring Arsenal’s 97th-minute winner in March. The Cherries stunned the Emirates Stadium crowd to lead 2-0. But Nelson stole the points in dramatic fashion after Partey and Ben White drew the game level.

Arteta will hope Saturday’s match is more akin to last August’s 3-0 win and not March’s 3-2 affair. Their fixture also falls amid Arsenal’s first run of three consecutive away games in the space of just seven days since September 2000. The Gunners travel to RC Lens on Tuesday.

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