Key events
1 min Arsenal, in their lilac and light blue third kit, kick off from left to right as we watch.
A reminder of the teams
Bournemouth (possible 4-2-3-1) Kepa; Araujo, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Cook, Scott; Semenyo, Tavernier, Ouattara; Evanilson.
Substitutes: Travers, Huijsen, Brooks, Christie, Adams, Smith, Sinisterra, Kluivert, Enes Unal.
Arsenal (possible 4-1-2-3) Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Partey; Merino, Rice; Sterling, Havertz, Trossard.
Substitutes: Setford, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Martinelli, Jesus, Kabia.
Referee Rob Jones.
Andoni Iraola’s pre-match thoughts
We had our chances against Liverpool and Chelsea but we didn’t score first. We need to start strongly and try to give them an uncomfortable game.
It’s a difficult game against the best defence in the Premier League, probably the world. We need the mentality to take every chance we get as if it’s the last one.
The Guardian MBM community lost somebody dear last week. Andrew Hurley was a huge Arsenal fan who has been a regular contributor to the football and cricket liveblogs for over a decade.
This might sound odd but one of the things I loved most about Andrew is how often he disagreed with me. The best liveblogs have an ongoing discussion or riff that accompanies the on-field action. And though Andrew could be strident, he was always civil, a combination that is increasingly, depressingly rare in online discourse. He restored my faith that it’s still possible to disagree agreeably.
Andrew also had an enviable originality of thought. During a busy game, you might have 20 or 30 unread emails and only 10 or 15 seconds to pick one; if I saw Andrew’s name I’d usually go there because I knew he’d have something interesting to say, even if I didn’t always agree with it.
Knew: the past tense. He has left us far too young, and I’m just so sorry for all his friends and family.
This is the first time Arsenal have started a Premier League game without both Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard since Odegaard joined the club almost four years ago.
Mikel Arteta’s pre-match thoughts
[On Bukayo Saka’s absence] We tried to get him fit but he didn’t have the right feeling so there’s not point pushing him. We have other options and this will be a good test for us.
He has very different qualities to Martin [Odegaard], and for the type of game we expect we think he’s very good.
Bournemouth are very well-coached and have a lot of threat. They’re a very tough team to play against.
Today’s Premier League results
Everton lead Ipswich 2-0 at Portman Road in a game that kicked off 15 minutes late.
Read Ed Aarons’ preview
Premier League latest
There’s plenty going on in the 3pm games, including comebacks at St Mary’s, Celtic Park and Old Trafford. Scott Murray has the latest.
From the archive, but still well worth a read
Team news: Saka out, Merino starts
Bournemouth make three changes from their frustrating defeat at Leicester before the international break. Julian Araujo, Alex Scott and Dango Ouattara come in for Adam Smith, Ryan Christie and Justin Kluivert.
Bukayo Saya is absent from the Arsenal squad because of a hamstring problem. Leandro Trossard replaces him in one of four changes from the win over Southampton a fortnight ago. The summer signing Mikel Merino makes his first league start and Ben White returns to the starting XI. Jorginho and Gabriel Jesus drop to the bench.
Bournemouth (possible 4-2-3-1) Kepa; Araujo, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Cook, Scott; Semenyo, Tavernier, Ouattara; Evanilson.
Substitutes: Travers, Huijsen, Brooks, Christie, Adams, Smith, Sinisterra, Kluivert, Enes Unal.
Arsenal (possible 4-1-2-3) Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Partey; Merino, Rice; Sterling, Havertz, Trossard.
Substitutes: Setford, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Martinelli, Jesus, Kabia.
Referee Rob Jones.
Preamble
Andoni Iraola has an itch to scratch. Since becoming Bournemouth manager his record against last season’s top six is desperate: P14 W0 D1 L13 F4 A32 Pts 1. His team are far better than that, as they’ve shown against the rest, and with the odd bit of giant-killing they could easily finish in the top half. It would also enhance the reputation of Iraola ahead of the managerial silly season.
All this is easier said than done, especially tonight. Bournemouth are up against a relentless, ravenous Arsenal team whose only dropped points this season have come with 10 men. They’ll go top if they win tonight, at least until Manchester City and Liverpool play tomorrow. They also have the chance to join a very small club. Liverpool are the only English club to have won 2000 top-flight games; Arsenal are 1999 not out.
Kick off 5.30pm.
