Arsenal v Bournemouth LIVE: Latest Premier League updates with Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka as hosts

Arsenal you will want to avoid any chances of losing ground to Manchester City in the title race when they face Bournemouth.

Mikel ArtetaGomes’ team arrives at the weekend with a point advantage over his former club, although the defending champions have a game in hand.

It’s been two decades since Arsenal last won a Premier League title, and they won all six home matches against Bournemouth.

Arsenal passed arguably their toughest test in the title race against Tottenham last weekend, but they cannot afford to slip up against a team who have recorded back-to-back wins against Brighton and Wolves.

Follow all the action live on the blog below and get the most recently Arsenal v Bournemouth predictions and odds here.

Arsenal v Bournemouth

• Arsenal v Bournemouth kicks off at 12:30pm

• Mikel Arteta expressed interest in Newcastle’s Alexander Isak

• Early Arsenal team news

• Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Rice, Partey, Odegaard, Saka, Trossard, Havertz

• Bournemouth XI: Travers, Smith, Senesi, Zabarnyi, Ouattara, Cook, Scott, Christie, Kluivert, Semenyo, Solanke

Arsenal FC-AFC Bournemouth

Bournemouth team news

11:37 , Chris Wilson

However, Bournemouth made changes, bringing Zabarnyi and Christie into the starting line-up.

Bournemouth XI: Travers, Smith, Senesi, Zabarnyi, Ouattara, Cook, Scott, Christie, Kluivert, Semnyo, Solanke.

Subs: Neto, Mckenna, Faivre, Hill, Unal, Billing, Aarons, Kinsey, Sadi.

Team News

11:35 am , Chris Wilson

Arsenal team news

11:34 , Sonia Twigg

Arsenal have unsurprisingly named an unchanged squad since their victory over Tottenham in the north London derby last week.

Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Rice, Partey, Odegaard, Saka, Trossard, Havertz

Subs: Ramsdale, Jesus, Smith Rowe, Martinelli, Nketiah, Kiwior, Jorginho, Vieria, Zinchenko.

Team News

11:25 am , Chris Wilson

The announcement of the lineups is imminent.

Arsenal’s chaotic win over Tottenham raises question about title race

quarter past eleven , Chris Wilson

Following last week’s dramatic 3-2 win over Tottenham, Mikel Arteta was asked about his extreme faith in his players as Tottenham threw cross after cross into the box in search of an unlikely equalizer. “Definitely… in the last few minutes I was doubting it a little!”

Arteta wouldn’t be human if that weren’t the case. Everyone knew that Arsenal’s title fight came down to the last minutes. They overcame, as Arteta was keen to stress that his squad “gives me no reason” to doubt.

Of course, many can point to how last season ended, and the coach himself pointed out the difference in perception of how these games went compared to everything that happened in last season’s round.

“When you win, it’s always like this. Last season we didn’t do that, because we went to West Ham and missed a penalty… in the end, the judgment will be based on that result. If Spurs scored 3-3 in the last minute, we wouldn’t be prepared. The margins are so small.”

This raises a question about this disagreement, which is now so clear in plain sight. Was it really better to go through this match the way they did against Spurs, after squandering a 3-0 lead, rather than winning it easily? Arteta obviously wouldn’t want the team or David Raya to put up with the mistake that led to Christian Romero’s goal – “it puts the wrong message in your brain”, as he put it – but having to dig deep like that brings out something else in the team.

Arsenal’s chaotic win over Tottenham raises question about title race

Arsenal are keeping an eye on Alexander Isak, with Newcastle star top of Mikel Arteta’s target list

11:00 , Sonia Twigg

Even so, the Premier League leaders will test Newcastle’s standing.

The Saudi-owned club’s hierarchy, however, want to show that they will not be pressured, and a distinct aim is to show that they can be on the same level as clubs like Arsenal in the coming seasons.

They will likely try to fend off interest in Isak by exploring a new contract, but the response to that could indicate how committed he is to the project.

Arsenal are keeping an eye on Alexander Isak, with Newcastle star top of Mikel Arteta’s target list

10:45 , Sonia Twigg

Newcastle’s ownership in Saudi Arabia intends to keep these players as a show of intent. Isak has scored 23 goals in 36 games this season amid a string of brilliant performances.

It’s for the same reasons that Arteta has the Swedish international at the top of his list.

Arsenal looked at a striker in the January window, but PSR’s own restrictions prevented a move, with the position further influenced by the lack of value in the market.

Arteta now sees a lot of value in Isak, although the club has a set price and does not want to enter into a long saga of comings and goings.

There is a short list of names that Arsenal see as strong targets beyond that, and they will be prepared to move on if a deal proves difficult to complete quickly.

Arsenal are keeping an eye on Alexander Isak, with Newcastle star top of Mikel Arteta’s target list

10:30 am , Sonia Twigg

Alexandre Isak is at the top of Arsenallist of striking targets for the summer, such as Mikel Arteta now he intends to buy the striker who will complete his team.

Newcastle United are strongly resistant to selling the Swedish star and will even try to offer him a new contract.

Much may depend on whether Isak can make a move to leave, having proven to be a huge success since signing from Real Sociedad for £63m in 2022.

Although the pressure of PSR regulations created an expectation that Newcastle would have to sell to buy, the 24-year-old is their best talent.

Early Arsenal team news

10:15 , Sonia Twigg

“Everyone is fit and available, so now it’s the headache of making the right selection,” Arteta said.

Asked whether Timber’s return could be a timely boost for the team as the title race approaches its final three weeks, Arteta added: “Yes, because it increases the quality of training.

“You see how commanding he is, his leadership, his quality and the rest that they have to elevate themselves and they start to demand more of each other and they look at each other and say ‘I better be good because I want to keep playing,’ and this is very positive for the cast.

“It’s complicated because there are only three games left and he’s missed eight months of football.

“He only played 150 minutes of football with the under-21s, it is an issue that can only be resolved by playing him on the field and we will see what happens, we have to try to get this decision right.”

Mikel Arteta gives tips on Jurrien Timber’s fitness ahead of Arsenal’s title challenge

10:00 am , Sonia Twigg

Mikel Arteta believes Jurrien Timber could still have a role to play at Arsenal Premier League title fight – despite not playing since August.

The defender is back in contention for Saturday’s visit to Bournemouth having regained fitness following a serious knee injury suffered on his league debut against Nottingham Forest.

After returning to training and improving his fitness while playing for the Under-21s, Arteta revealed that the 22-year-old will be part of the squad against the Cherries.

Is Arsenal v Bournemouth on TV?

09:45 , Sonia Twigg

Arsenal hopes to put pressure on fellow title chasers Manchester City as they face Bournemouth.

Mikel Arteta’s side head into the weekend at the top of the table, one point ahead of his former club, who have a game in hand, and five ahead of a Liverpool in decline.

With their closest rivals playing only later on Saturday, Arsenal will hope to secure another victory and take a step towards their first title in two decades.

Is Arsenal v Bournemouth on TV? Start time, channel and how to watch

Arsenal v Bournemouth

08:59 , Sonia Twigg

Good morning and welcome The Independent Live coverage, preparation and team news ahead of Arsenal v Bournemouth, which kicks off at 12:30pm.