Arsenal will be presented with the opportunity to move to the top of the Premier League table when they square off with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Gunners are currently occupying third spot in the standings but they could seize the initiative in the title race this weekend given that both Man City and Liverpool are not in action until Sunday.
Mikel Arteta’s men survived a slight scare when coming from behind to beat Southampton 3-1 before the international break, on an afternoon where my anytime goalscorer bet landed.
The capital club will now be targeting another three points against south coast opposition when they head to Bournemouth this weekend.
The Cherries have made a mixed start to the season, winning two, drawing two and losing three of their opening seven top-flight assignments of the campaign.
Last time out, Andoni Iraola’s side slumped to a 1-0 loss away at Leicester, and they now face a huge upgrade on that challenge when they play host to high-flying Arsenal.
How the bookies view it: Gunners set for Vitality victory
Arsenal are 4/6 favourites on Bet 365 to emerge victorious from the Vitality Stadium on Saturday evening.
Bournemouth are big underdogs at 15/4 (Betano) as they bid to make it back-to-back home wins in the Premier League for the first time this season.
None of the Cherries’ previous five Premier League games have ended in a draw and the 29/10 (Betano) price about a stalemate here would suggest that sequence will continue this weekend.
Head to head: Gunners tend to out-gun Cherries
Arsenal can draw confidence from their remarkably strong record in this fixture over the years, having triumphed in 13 of the overall 16 meetings between the pair, including each of the last five.
Bournemouth’s solitary success in this fixture came all the way back in 2018 in a 2-1 win at this venue.
Players to watch: Saka to put on another show?
Quite astonishingly, Bukayo Saka has registered seven assists across the opening seven rounds of Premier League action. The Arsenal ace has also chipped in with two goals for good measure, making him a standout selection for a goal or an assist here at 4/5 (Bet 365).
Evanilson finally broke his duck in Bournemouth's last home game against Southampton. The Brazilian forward is as big as 3/1 (Bet 365) to make the bulge on Saturday evening.
Predicted line-ups
Bournemouth have been boosted by the news that midfielder Tyler Adams is close to making a return after missing the opening stretch of the season with a back injury.
Arsenal will again be without captain Martin Odegaard, while Bournemouth loanee Neto is ineligible to play against his parent club.
Bournemouth: Kepa; Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Cook, Christie; Semenyo, Kluivert, Tavernier; Evanilson
Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Partey, Rice; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli; Havertz
Anything else catch the eye?
Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook has been one of the Premier League‘s biggest offenders in terms of fouls committed this season.
The Cherries midfielder has racked up a whopping 18 fouls across his seven top-flight outings this term to date, committing multiple misdemeanours in five those contests.
Thus, the even-money (1/1) on Bet 365 for Cook to fall foul of the referee twice or more against a team of Arsenal’s calibre looks a great value option.
This English Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal will be played on Oct 19, 2024 and kick off at 17:30. Check below for our tipsters best AFC Bournemouth vs Arsenal prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
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