Premier League preview and odds: AFC Bournemouth vs Arsenal

Published on: 02/01/2017

Premier League preview and odds: AFC Bournemouth vs Arsenal

January 02, 2016 19:45pm - Vitality Stadium

Referee: TBC

Premier League

AFC Bournemouth will continue their quest to establish themselves as a top 10 Premier League side when they welcome third-ranked Arsenal to the Vitality stadium on Tuesday night. The visitors themselves will be looking for a third-straight win to keep their title hopes alive.

Bournemouth just three points off seventh-ranked Everton

With the top six breaking away from the rest of the pack, AFC Bournemouth are one of several contenders to finish the season in seventh place. Eddie Howe`s men have made steady progress in what is just their second term in the top flight, and look to be well on course for a comfortable mid-table berth.

The Cherries have been picking up points home and away and have already taken points off top four contenders Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. They come into this game on the back of a 3-0 win away to bottom club Swansea, which broke a run of two-straight defeats.

On home soil, the South Coast side have won five of their last eight matches, having drawn one and lost the other two. Only the top six and Crystal Palace have scored more goals than Bournemouth this season.

Meanwhile, Arsenal could do with a win to keep their title challenge on track. The Gunners have fallen nine points behind runaway leaders Chelsea but will be hoping to pounce should their London rivals slip up. Also ahead of them in the table are Jurgen Klopp`s Liverpool, who are also enjoying a rich vein of form.

Arsene Wenger`s men lost their last two away games (Everton and Manchester City) before recording back-to-back home wins against West Bromwich Albion (1-0) and Crystal Palace (2-0) during the holiday period. They have scored at least one goal in each of their last 10 matches.

Team news

The home side will have to make do without Jack Wilshere, who is unable to play against his parent club, while injured duo Marc Pugh (hamstring) and Lewis Cook (ankle) will also miss out.

Meanwhile, the visitors will continue without Theo Walcott (calf), Mathieu Debuchy (hamstring), Santi Cazorla (Achilles), Chuba Akpom (back) and Per Mertesecker (knee), while Mohamed Elneny is on African Cup of Nations duty. Mesut Ozil is struggling with an illness and remains a doubt along with Kieran Gibbs, who is recovering from a knee problem.

Recent form (League):

AFC Bournemouth: WLLWL

Arsenal: WWLLW

Betting odds and tips

Arsenal have won just one of their last four away games but six of their last eight road trips have produced Over 2.5 Goals. Four or Bournemouth`s last six home games have also produced this result.

You can back Over 2.5 Goals at 7/10 with Bet365.

By Neil Morris

Published on: 02/01/2017

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (02/01/2017 14:36:36) but are subject to change.