Arsenal vs Bournemouth LIVE: Mikel Arteta makes three changes to the side that beat Everton as Fabio Vieira comes in for Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey replaces Jorginho as the Gunners look to restore five-point advantage at the top
Follow Sportsmail’s live blog for the Premier League clash between Arsenal and Bournemouth.
Host commentator
Pressure is now back on the league leaders after Manchester City beat Newcastle 2-0 to close the gap to just two points.
Arteta and O’Neil will be delivering their final instructions to their teams now.
Father time comes for us all one day…
#Arsenal have named a starting XI without a single player to have made a competitive appearance under Arsene Wenger for the first time since 22nd January 1986 vs Aston Villa in the League Cup.
Click below for the link to Sportsmail’s other live blog today, with Adam Shergold across all of the action from Stamford Bridge. You dread to think of the sort of reaction that will greet Potter’s side should they go 1-0 down, or worse.
Partey comes back in for Jorginho and Vieira starts in place of Xhaka. That latter change will be in view of Arsenal having a lot of the ball in Bournemouth territory, you’d expect.
Tomiyasu is in for Ben White.
Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Partey, Vieira; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
🧱 Tomiyasu at the back
🔙 Partey returns
🪄 Vieira in midfield
Three changes from Wednesday – Come on you Gunners! pic.twitter.com/gWkof6IKYb
Gary O’Neil makes two changes from the side that lost 4-1 to City.
Their team is as follows: Neto; Smith, Stephens, Mepham, Senesi, Zemura; Semenyo, Rothwell, Billing, Ouattara; Solanke
📝 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 📝
🔺 Semenyo and Rothwell start
🔺 Lerma and Traorè out
🔺 Cook back on bench
Our line up for #ARSBOU 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/Hi5pkEaRSX
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An intriguing discussion with Xhaka.
Granit Xhaka says the Arsenal squad haven't discussed the possibility of winning the Premier League title yet 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/UvXPNnibRw
Mikel Arteta has spoken about the importance of Arsenal’s last three results, and maintaining the distance between themselves and Manchester City.
‘It’s really important. It gives you momentum, it gives you confidence and it obviously puts you in a much better position in the league table, which is the most important thing,’ he said. ‘The team is in a good place and really looking to the game tomorrow.’
On Gabriel Jesus’ return from injury, he offered a positive assessment – but urged caution at the same time.
‘He’s not far now. I don’t want to give a timeline but he’s doing certain things with the team and certain things outside the team,’ he said. ‘He’s not very close but he’s not far at all. He’s feeling better every day and the doctors are confident with the way the injury is evolving. We are in a good place with him, I think.
‘I think it’s been pretty straightforward [his recovery],’ he added. ‘At the beginning, we were really concerned with the possible extent of the injury because we were talking about a few options there.
‘Thankfully it wasn’t that bad, but it was a long-term injury, it required surgery and it’s not [pleasant], especially the first few weeks. But knowing Gaby, he’s been through that before. His mentality is incredible and the team has done a really good job with him to put him in the position he’s in today.’
On his counterpart today, Arteta said: ‘I’ve known him for many years because we’ve been in the league together, and I’ve been really impressed with what he’s done throughout his career and the way he approaches every game, the way he sets the team and what the team is doing right now. I know him personally as well, so I think he is doing a great job. It is great to see managers of that age as well occupying those roles and doing well.’
Bournemouth have never won at Arsenal. Indeed, they have never even gained a point. It would be some result if they managed to get something today.
Of the 13 clashes between the sides, Arsenal have won 10, drawn two and lost once. That loss came in December 2018 at the Vitality, thanks to goals from Jordan Ibe and Callum Wilson. Hector Bellerin grabbed Arsenal’s.
An exciting list of fixtures in the Premier League today.
In the day’s early kick-off, Manchester City lead Newcastle 1-0 thanks to Phil Foden’s deflected effort.
Wolves host Tottenham, while Leeds travel to Chelsea in a game that is certainly one to keep your eye on for a host of reasons.
West Ham will look to build upon last weekend’s crucial victory over Nottingham Forest as they go to Brighton on the south coast, while Aston Villa host Crystal Palace, still searching for their first win of the calendar year.
In the day’s late game, Leicester go to St Mary’s. Such is the nature of the bottom of the division this season, every weekend appears to be carrying a relegation six-pointer at present.
Hello and welcome to this afternoon’s live blog of Arsenal’s clash with Bournemouth.
What is there to say about the Gunners? Seemingly faltering and having fallen behind Manchester City two weeks ago, they have reacted superbly, winning their last three games in a row. Jorginho’s strike at Aston Villa which ricocheted into the net via the head of Emi Martinez could prove ever so crucial come the end of the season.
Having kept just one clean sheet since the Premier League returned from its World Cup hiatus after Christmas, they have now kept two back-to-back. Today’s clash with Bournemouth offers a brilliant chance for them to keep that run going.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, carry hopes of survival. Not many would have said that a month ago. Victory at Wolves, manager Gary O’Neil intimated, was simply indicative of the way performances had been trailing recently.
Despite that positive result in the Black Country, last weekend’s visit of Manchester City gave them a heavy dose of reality. O’Neil will want a reaction.
Team news to come in 25 minutes or so.
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