Bournemouth vs Arsenal live: Latest score and updates from Premier League clash

For once, it is not just excitable new year talk to say 2026 has a strong chance of going down as the most momentous in English football history.

And, yes, perhaps the best of times and the worst of times.

Miguel Delaney previews what is unlikely to just be another year in the footballing world:

Ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has suggested that either Gabriel Jesus or Kai Havertz should be Arsenal’s starting striker from now on, labelling both options “a better player” than Viktor Gyokeres.

“The one negative out of tonight for Arsenal, is that Gyokeres should not be starting, when they have players like this,” explained Carragher after the win over Aston Villa.

“In a couple of games time, when Jesus is a bit more up to speed, he should be starting. He’s a better player than Gyokeres – that’s a fact.”

Three changes for Arsenal from the side that beat Aston Villa 4-1: Declan Rice is recovered from his knee issue and replaces Mikel Merino, while Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli come into the side, replacing Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard.

Andoni Iraola fields the same XI as in the 2-2 draw with Chelsea last time out.

The big news for Bournemouth is that Antoine Semenyo, heavily tipped for a move to Man City in this transfer window, starts for the Cherries – meaning he could well hurt Arsenal’s title chances today before immediately moving to their big rivals for the Premier League trophy.

Bournemouth XI: Petrovic, Jimenez, Hill, Senesi, Truffert, Scott, Tavernier, Brooks, Kluivert, Semenyo, Evanilson

Subs: Forster, Cook, Soler, Smith, Diakite, Adli, Kroupi Jr, Enes Unal, Rees-Dottin

Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Madueke, Martinelli, Gyokeres

Subs: Arrizabalaga, White, Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, Merino, Eze, Saka, Trossard, Jesus

Just a couple minutes away from team news being confirmed. Here’s a reminder of what we know so far:

Antoine Semenyo is set to start with Andoni Iraola confirming his involvement, but Ben Gannon-Goak, Tyler Adams and Veljko Milosavljevic are all out. Lewis Cook and Ryan Christie are both 50/50 to feature.

As for Arsenal, there is still a big question mark over Declan Rice’s involvement. The midfielder missed the win against Villa due to knee swelling and he remains a doubt for Saturday’s game. Cristhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori are still absent, but Gabriel and Jurrien Timber are set to start once again.

This victory may well be one they look back on in May. Faced with the Premier League’s in-form team, a side bouncing into north London after eight hair-raising wins on the spin, Arsenal blew away the merry men of Aston Villa in a sensational 30-minute, four-goal blitz at the Emirates. To close out 2025, jubilant on the touchline, it was Mikel Arteta’s biggest statement yet.

What sort of message has it sent to Manchester City? An emphatic one. In recent weeks, it has been nervy late-game viewing for Arsenal supporters, so desperate for this season to be, beyond any other competitions, their season in the Premier League. This was a proper test of their title credentials under the lights: a team with 11 consecutive victories in all competitions. The league’s in-form player in Morgan Rogers. An ex-manager in Unai Emery smelling a 24-day double. But they answered it and, whisper it quietly, in the manner of champions.

Read Kieran Jackson’s report from Tuesday night’s classic at the Emirates:

Andoni Iraola gave some more detail when pressed if today’s game against Arsenal will be Semenyo’s last for Bournemouth.

“No, no. I think the idea at least that he’s going to be available in these two home games in a short turnaround. I hope he can be here for more time. But I don’t know what’s going to be happen,” he said.

“That’s not the idea [that it’s Semenyo’s last match]. The market is open, you never know what’s going to happen. I cannot control things, but right now I don’t think so.”

Semenyo has been heavily linked with a move away with Manchester City said to be closing in on signing the Ghana international.