Arsenal vs Bournemouth preview: How to watch on TV, live stream, team news & prediction

After avenging their Goodison Park defeat on Wednesday night in some style, Arsenal will be keen to maintain their winning momentum against Bournemouth on Saturday. 

The Gunners have enjoyed a three-game winning run in the wake of their seemingly crucial 3-1 defeat to Man City and their recent run has seen them open up a five-point gap over their title rivals at the summit.

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1631046630068699141

However, that deficit will be cut to two before Arsenal kick-off on Saturday if City beat Newcastle to open up the gameweek.

Mikel Arteta’s side thumped Bournemouth 3-0 in the reverse fixture at the start of the season, but the Cherries are much changed from their first outing. Gary O’Neil’s side are well in the relegation dogfight, and many expect the south coast outfit to succumb to the second tier.

Thus, this is a huge opportunity for the Premier League leaders to extend their winning run ahead of a busy period.

Arsenal vs Bournemouth preview: How to watch on TV, live stream, team news & prediction

Here’s our preview of Arsenal’s Premier League clash against Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon.

How to watch Arsenal vs Bournemouth on TV

When is kick-off? Saturday 4 March

What time is kick-off? 15:00 (BST)

Where is it played? Emirates Stadium

TV channel/live stream? N/A (UK), fuboTV (Canada), Peacock (US)

Referee? Chris Kavanagh

Arsenal team news

Arteta is more likely to rotate his pack next Thursday in Lisbon with few changes being made to the starting XI on Saturday.

Leandro Trossard has impressed in his last two starts and should continue in the XI, while Thomas Partey is expected to make his first start in almost a month after playing 45 minutes on Wednesday.

Emile Smith Rowe earned minutes off the bench last time out, but his first start of the campaign is poised to arrive against Sporting.

Gabriel Jesus and Mohamed Elneny remain sidelined.

Bournemouth team news

Matias Vina, Junior Stanislas and Marcus Tavernier all missed Saturday’s defeat to City and it’s unclear whether any of them will make the trip to north London this weekend.

Lloyd Kelly and Lewis Cook are also doubts, while Ilya Zabarnyi and David Brooks are certain to miss out.

Arsenal vs Bournemouth predicted lineups

Arsenal: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli.

Bournemouth: Neto; Smith, Mepham, Senesi, Stephens, Zemura; Ouattara, Billing, Lerma, Traore; Solanke.

Arsenal’s recent form

Arsenal 4-0 Everton (01/03) – Premier League

Leicester 0-1 Arsenal (25/02) – Premier League

Aston Villa 2-4 Arsenal (18/02) – Premier League

Arsenal 1-3 Man City (15/02) – Premier League

Arsenal 1-1 Brentford (11/02) – Premier League

Bournemouth’s recent form

Bournemouth 1-4 Man City (25/02) – Premier League

Wolves 0-1 Bournemouth (18/02) – Premier League

Bournemouth 1-1 Newcastle (11/02) – Premier League

Brighton 1-0 Bournemouth (04/02) – Premier League

Bournemouth 1-1 Nottingham Forest (21/01) – Premier League

Prediction

Arsenal produced one of their finest 45 minutes of football in the second half against Everton on Wednesday, and I expect that momentum to carry into Saturday.

An injury-ravaged Bournemouth were thrashed by City last weekend, and the Gunners should put the visitors to the sword in a similar fashion. Only Southampton have lost more games on the road than the Cherries this season, and it’s hard to envisage O’Neil’s side laying a glove on the Premier League leaders.

This should be a routine victory for the hosts.

Prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Bournemouth