Bournemouth vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result and final score as 10-man Gunners suffer defeat

Here we go! The players are out the tunnel on what is a lovely autumn evening in Bournemouth. A big test for Arsenal, this, given their absenses. They have the opportunity to go top for the first time this season should they win.

Arsenal can go 14 top-flight matches unbeaten for the first time under Mikel Arteta, while the Gunners are unbeaten in 16 matches in all competitions since a 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.

It’s Arsenal’s longest unbeaten run since December 2018 under Unai Emery.

Arsenal have conceded just two away goals in the Premier League so far this season, and one of those came when they were down to 10 men in the 2-2 draw against Manchester City.

Mikel Arteta’s side kept clean sheets in the wins at Aston Villa and Tottenham in what was a tricky start away from home for the Gunners.

“You have to try to respect them, but maybe not so much,” said Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola.

“I would say they were the team from last season where we created less than them in both games. We haven’t been the team we want to be against them and it’s a challenge for us.

“You have to win duels against strong defenders and impose yourself.”

Incredible stat. Arsenal are without both Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard for the first time since January 2021.

Here’s Mikel Arteta: “We tried the last few days [to get him fit]. He didn’t have the right feeling, so we decided there was no point pushing him.

“That’s why we have various options. It is a good test for the team.”

Mikel Arteta says he would have happily played for England but confirmed he was not one of the candidates the FA approached to replace Gareth Southgate.

While FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said “approximately 10” candidates had been interviewed, Arteta confirmed he was not one of them, nor is he at a point where the prospect of an international management position entices him.

He said: “No, I didn’t speak to them. I’m not one of those 10. I’m happy enough right now with all the responsibilities and the amount of things we want to achieve and do here. So, at the moment, I’m not thinking about it.”

PA

Kai Havertz was struggling early on in his Arsenal career last season when the Gunners received a late penalty against Bournemouth.

After goals from Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard gave Arsenal a two-goal lead, Havertz was handed the spot-kick for the chance to score his first Arsenal goal.

Havertz converted and his improvement has been clear ever since. The German has scored in four games in a row for Arsenal and is perhaps the most complete centre forward in the top-flight.

“I think that was a turning point, for sure,” Arteta said when asked about Havertz’s goal at Bournemouth last season.

“The players took ownership, which is the best thing. They decided to do something for the player. That straight away made him feel special, it made him feel respected and admired. Everybody was willing and wishing the best for him. He delivered.

“That day, the connection towards the supporters went to a different level as well and everything started to click.

“Since then, the story is unbelievable. His involvement in every match, what he produces to help us win matches is incredible and very positive obviously.”

Arsenal have lost just once against Bournemouth since the Cherries were first promoted to the Premier League, which came in a 2-1 victory at home in January 2018. The Gunners have also won their last five matches against Bournemouth in all competitions.

May 2024: Arsenal 3-0 Bournemouth

September 2023: Bournemouth 0-4 Arsenal

March 2023: Arsenal 3-2 Bournemouth

August 2022: Bournemouth 0-3 Arsenal

January 2020: Bournemouth 1-2 Arsenal (FA Cup)

Teams! Bukayo Saka did not travel with the Arsenal squad so he does not play on the south coast after injuring his hamstring while on England duty. Kai Havertz makes it, while Gabriel Martinelli is on the bench. Raheem Sterling starts while Mikel Merino is handed his first Premier League start.

Bournemouth XI: Kepa, Araujo, Zabarnyi, Sensei Kerkez, Cook, Scott, Ouattara, Tavernier, Semenyo, Evanilson

Subs: Travers, Huijsen, Brooks, Christie, Smith, Sinisterra, Kluivert, Unal, Adams.

Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Gabriel, Saliba, Calafiori; Partey, Rice; Sterling, Trossard, Merino; Havertz

Subs: Setford, Jesus, Martinelli, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Kabia, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri.

Bukayo Saka is not in the Arsenal squad that has travelled to Bournemouth today.

We’ll have the confirmed team news and starting line-ups in the next 15 minutes.

Bournemouth have just two wins this season and come into the weekend 13th in the table. But manager Andoni Iraola believes the Cherries should be sitting higher.

“If you look at the stats, we should probably have more points,” he said on Friday. “The big mistake we’ve made is the game we lost against Leicester [before the international break].

“The other results are more or less logical, but we have to recover the three points we lost there. We have three games in a row against Champions League teams so we have to recover those points in a difficult way.”