Bournemouth vs Arsenal preview: What time does it start, what TV channel is it on and where can I watch it?
A look ahead to the Premier League fixture at Dean Court
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal travel to the south coast to face Bournemouth for the second time this season, looking to jump back into third place in the Premier League.
Victory for Manchester City saw them jump ahead of Arsene Wenger’s side while United’s victory saw them close to within a point of the Gunners prior to kick off at the Vitality Stadium.
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It’s a big game for…
Alexis Sanchez: The tricky Chilean is Arsenal’s most influential player, and against an entertaining Bournemouth side, the Gunners will need him to be at his best. Since Arsenal’s 5-1 demolition of West Ham at the beginning of the month, Sanchez has only netted a solitary goal, in a 2-1 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park.
Best stat…
0: Bournemouth have faced Arsenal four times in their history and have failed to pick up a win, losing all four.
Remember when…
Arsenal have already faced Bournemouth this season as the Gunners recorded a 3-1 home victory. Sanchez capitalised on a defensive mistake to put them 1-0 up before Callum Wilson netted a penalty to level the terms. Second half goals from Theo Walcott and Sanchez sealed the win for the hosts.
Player to watch…
Benik Afobe: The former Wolves striker is a live wire in the box and Arsenal’s centre-backs will have to frustrate himto keep him quiet. Afobe has bagged two goals in his last five Premier League games, one being last time out in the 3-0 win away at Swansea, and the 23-year-old will want to build on that here against Arsenal.
Past three meetings…
Arsenal 3 (Sanchez 2, Walcott) Bournemouth 1 (Wilson), Premier League, November 2016
Bournemouth 0 Arsenal 2 (Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain), Premier League, February 2016]
Arsenal 2 (Gabriel, Ozil) Bournemouth 0, Premier League, December 2015
Form guide…
BOURNEMOUTH: WLWLLW
ARSENAL: WWLLWW
Vital information…
KICK-OFF: 19:45, Tuesday 3rd January 2017
TV: Sky Sports 1
Odds…
BOURNEMOUTH TO WIN: 15/4
ARSENAL TO WIN: 5/6
DRAW: 29/10
(Odds provided by Betfair)
The players have emerged from the tunnel to greet a sold out Dean Court, and it is now time for the pre-match formalities: some handshakes, rustling of the goal nets and a coin toss.
KICK-OFF: Another day, another Premier League game. Referee Michael Oliver blows his whistle and the latest encounter of 2017 is underway. Harry Arter gets us going with Bournemouth attacking from right to left; Arsenal are in their away strip of yellow and navy blue.
1 min: The Sky Sports co-commentator is Niall Quinn. The former Republic of Ireland beanpole striker has been unescapable so far in 2017.
3 mins: Early Arsenal pressure stems from the right side. Hector Bellerin tries his luck with a chipped cross into the Bournemouth box before Alex Iwobi has a go a more direct delivery. Simon Francis stands tall to both attempts.
5 mins: The first shot of the game is a daisycutter from the right foot of Josh King. The curiously Norwegian forward was first on the scene following a slack Arsenal clearance, but his effort veers a foot wide of Petr Cech's right-hand post.
It's been a meteoric rise since Eddie Howe first took charge of Bournemouth on this day eight years ago.
9 mins: The home side are piling on the pressure. After Charlie Daniels had seen his shot blocked, Junior Stanislas took aim from long range. It's sweetly struck but straight at Petr Cech.
12 mins: The home fans are screaming for a penalty! And now they are screaming abuse at referee Michael Oliver because he has not given it! A lovely ball behind the Arsenal backline from Stanislas had Callum Wilson on to it in a flash. As Cech rushed out to narrow the angle, the Bournemouth striker touched the ball wide of the goalkeeper before he was brought crashing to the ground. Replays, however, show Cech had got a firm connection on the ball first before he made contact with the forward. It's a superb decision from the match official.
KICK-OFF: The games at Selhurst Park and the Britannia Stadium are now also underway. We'll have news of any major incidents from the two fixtures.
16 mins: GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 1 ARSENAL 0:
A lovely goal by Charlie Daniels! The Bournemouth left-back bided his time on the touchline, signalling his presence in masses of unmarked space. Eventually, Junior Stanislas took note and pinged a wonderful 40-yard crossfield pass from right to left straight into the path of his teammate. Hector Bellerin realised his negligence to the situation but before he could close Daniels down, the defender skipped inside his marker and curled beautifully past Petr Cech at the near post. Wild scenes on the south coast!
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