Bournemouth vs Arsenal: Preview and Prediction

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Match Preview:

Mikel Arteta will kick start his managerial career in charge of Arsenal when the Gunners travel to Bournemouth for this Boxing Day clash.

Arteta was in the stands as he saw Arsenal draw 0-0 away to Everton in a lacklustre game and the former Gunners player has a lot of work to do with this team if they are going to become a force once more. Arsenal are in 11^th place but a win today could move them up a couple of places and back into the top 10, but the club need Champions League football and that is looking like a distant dream now as they are 9 points from that target and their looks to be a huge gulf in class to the likes of Man City and Liverpool.

The Gunners have only won 2 games away from home but they have gone their last 3 matches on the road undefeated and that will count for something.

Bournemouth are perhaps in their poorest form of the season having lost 4 of their last 5 games. Their latest defeat came at the hands of Burnley losing 1-0 at home. Eddie Howe’s side have lost almost 50% of their games at home including losing their last 3 in a row and have scored just 9 goals in front of their own fans, however a win would take the club just 1 point behind Arsenal.

Team News:

Bournemouth: John McGinn has an ankle injury and is set to miss many weeks. Tyrone Mings is trying to be fit for this game after his hamstring injury and may face a late test

Arsenal: The club do have some long term injuries but have no new ones coming into this game

Bournemouth vs Arsenal Head to Head:

Last season Arsenal won this game 2-1.

Arsenal have scored 8 goals against Bournemouth in their last 3 meetings.

Bournemouth have beaten Arsenal just once in the last 9 meetings.

Bournemouth vs Arsenal Prediction:

This is not a good Arsenal side but they have two things in their favour. The first is that Arteta is here, if he ends up being a great or poor manager that doesn’t matter right now, what does is that he is a new manager and usually a teams form picks up straight away. The second is that they are facing a poorer side than themselves. True Bournemouth have pulled off some good results this season but form is very poor and Arsenal could capitalise on this. We expect in a rare occasion this season that the Gunners will be on top form and ready for this game, if not then that will be a major concern for Arteta who some believe has taken a gamble being in charge of this Arsenal side. On paper Arsenal has the team to win, now it is up to Arteta and what can he bring to the side?

Bournemouth vs Arsenal Betting Tips:

Arsenal to beat Bournemouth at 2.00

Anytime goalscorer: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at 1.72