Bournemouth take on the visitors Arsenal in the round 20 match of English Premier League. The match will be played on Saturday, January 3rd at Vitality Stadium (Bournemouth).
Bournemouth were once closely associated with Howe, and under the then very young manager they enjoyed a solid debut in the Premier League. After returning from the Championship, the club put their trust in Iraola. He delivered good results in England, despite having previously worked only in Spain. In the 2024/2025 season Bournemouth even climbed to ninth place. However, in the summer the club sold Zabarnyi, Heisen and Kerkez. At first, it seemed that the young coach had coped with this challenge as well. But after a lively start, the team clearly lost momentum from November onward and stopped winning. Even at home against crisis-hit newcomers Burnley, they dropped points by conceding in the 90th minute. They were then heavily beaten 1-4 by Brentford, although they managed a 2-2 draw with Chelsea. Recent results show inconsistency and problems in closing out matches. Still, the ability to take points against stronger opponents suggests that Bournemouth retain some competitive edge.
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Arsenal hope to finally return to the top of British football. Under Arteta, the Gunners have undoubtedly improved. They are now a true powerhouse that lacks only one thing: titles. Early in his independent career in London, Mikel won cup-format trophies, but later his team finished second in the Premier League, first behind Manchester City and last season behind Liverpool. This season, the Red and Whites have a perfect record in the Champions League. In the League Cup, fielding a rotated side, they progressed past Crystal Palace in the quarterfinals after a 1-1 draw by winning on penalties. Most importantly, Arsenal have managed to stay consistently among the league leaders, although their advantage narrowed in winter due to several slips. Against a recent nemesis and potential rival, Aston Villa, they responded with an emphatic 4-1 win. That result highlighted their attacking rhythm and mental resilience. Overall, their recent form suggests they are regaining momentum at a crucial stage of the campaign.
Up to and including 2024, the Gunners generally performed well in head-to-head meetings. However, last season the Cherries managed to beat the London giants twice. In these circumstances, the leader must win. The pick is Arsenal with a -1 goal handicap.
Prediction for the match: Arsenal to win with -1.0 handicap.
