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By Riath Al-samarrai At The Vitality Stadium and Isaan Khan At The Vitality Stadium Published: 02: 32 AEDT, 20 October 2024 | Updated: 05: 44 AEDT, 20 October 2024 377 View comments Mikel Arteta's Arsenal travel to the Vitality Stadium to face Bournemouth in the Premier League. A win today would take the Gunners the top of the table, with title rivals Manchester City and Liverpool yet to play. Today's came will not come without some challenges however as the North London side travel to the south coast with a handful of injury woes.   The Cherries on the other hand will be hoping to capitalise on Arsenal's medical issues and cause one of the upsets of the weekend as Andoni Iraola's side look to bounce back from their 1-0 defeat they suffered at the hands of Leicester just before the international break. Follow Mail Sport's live coverage below for the live score, team news, latest updates and reaction. By Robert Summerscales Jamie Redknapp on Sky Sports: By Robert Summerscales David Raya made two saves today but he got nowhere near this spot-kick, which sealed all three points for the Cherries. Justin Kluivert has now scored 10 goals since his arrival from Valencia. By Robert Summerscales This one deserves plenty of replays. Don't be surprised if Mikel Arteta and Arsenal set-piece coach Nicolas Jover try to recreate it themselves later in the season. By Robert Summerscales Arsenal had not lost an away game in the Premier League this calendar year before today. But they were well beaten by Bournemouth. The Gunners actually had slightly more possession (51. 6%). But Bournemouth registered more than twice as many shots as their opponents (13-6) and also had more corners (7-4). By Robert Summerscales That's it! A great result for Bournemouth - only their second win over Arsenal in 17 attempts. The Cherries climb into the top half of the Premier League table. Meanwhile, Arsenal stay third and could be four points off the summit if Liverpool win tomorrow. By Robert Summerscales Despite only being around 1, 000 in number, the Arsenal supporters made plenty of noise during the first half. They were still singing a 1-0 too but they now appear resigned to their team's fate. A now-quiet away end is thinning out as the final whistle approaches. By Robert Summerscales Enes Unal replaces Evanilson, who has had a fine evening for Bournemouth. He drew the foul that saw Saliba sent off in the first half, before winning the penalty moments ago. A contender for the Player of the Match award? By Robert Summerscales Moments after his mistake led to the Bournemouth penalty, Jakub Kiwior - who was subbed on in the first half - is taken off. Mikel Merino also departs as Ethan Nwaneri and Gabriel Jesus come on. By Robert Summerscales Kluivert sends Raya the wrong way and Bournemouth are closing in on only their second-ever win over Arsenal. The Cherries have been much the better side since Saliba's red card, having held their own before that. By Robert Summerscales Arsenal survive a VAR check for a possible penalty against Thomas Partey but moments later Bournemouth DO have a spot kick. Jakub Kiwior's poor back-pass sets up Evanilson, who is clearly brought down by Raya. No booking for Raya, but a huge chance for Bournemouth to potentially finish off the Gunners. .. By Robert Summerscales The set-piece kings are beaten at their own game as Bournemouth score from a slick corner routine. Lewis Cook's low delivery finds Justin Kluivert, who backheels the ball for Ryan Christie to slam home in style. One can only assume that the Sky Sports cameras would be pointed firmly at the Bournemouth set-piece coach right now. .. if they only knew his/her identity! By Riath Al-samarrai At The Vitality Stadium Iraola subbing off Dango Ouattara is a bizarre one. We can only assume he’s tired, because otherwise it would make little sense – he had just skinned Ben White twice in the space of five minutes. By Robert Summerscales Gabriel Martinelli replaces Leandro Trossard for Arsenal. An injection of pace to spearhead the Gunners' counter-attacks perhaps? By Robert Summerscales Three changes for the Cherries. Off go Dango Ouattara, Alex Scott and Marcus Tavernier. On come Ryan Christie, Justin Kluivert and Luis Sinisterra. By Robert Summerscales Antoine Semenyo becomes the first Bournemouth player to enter the referee's notebook. He fouls Declan Rice then unnecessarily vents his frustration at Leandro Trossard. By Robert Summerscales Dango Ouattara is causing Arsenal plenty of problems down the Bournemouth left. This is not the easy game Ben White may have been hoping for on his return to the Arsenal side. By Robert Summerscales Former Arsenal forward Theo Walcott on Sky Sports: By Robert Summerscales Arsenal are arguably much more flexible than their title rivals when it comes to their style of play. Mikel Arteta's men can play free-flowing football but also sit deep and grind. They are doing the latter right now, while still looking to attack on the break. By Robert Summerscales The biggest chance of the game so far (other than the one Saliba denied Evanilson) falls to Antoine Semenyo, who smashes it into orbit. Dango Ouattara gets in down the Gunners left and fizzes in a lowish cross. Semenyo makes a very strong connection but he doesn't control his effort. By Robert Summerscales We are back underway at the Vitality Stadium. Arsenal have not made any more substitutions during the interval. But Adam Smith has replaced Julian Araujo for Bournemouth. By Robert Summerscales He really isn't 'that type of player'. .. Before today, William Saliba had never been sent off in 157 league games. However, his first red card will still result in a one-match suspension to be served against Liverpool on October 27. By Robert Summerscales Stats can be deceptive. Nevertheless, these stats make for encouraging reading if you are a Bournemouth fan. Bournemouth had 50. 1 per cent of the possession in that first half. The Cherries registered seven shots, four more than Arsenal. Two of Bournemouth's shots hit the target, while none of Arsenal's did. Five of the six corners in the first half were taken by the home side. Both teams committed four fouls, with only one card shown. .. but it was a significant one! By Robert Summerscales The referee's instinct was to show Saliba a yellow card. After watching multiple replays, he changed his call to red. Take a look for yourself. Did Saliba have to go? By Robert Summerscales Plenty for Mikel Arteta to think about at the break. Arsenal were unable to get into top gear with 11 men and have looked a little wobbly since going down to 10. This game is still in the balance but the Gunners will need a special second half if they are to get the three points they came for. By Robert Summerscales Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith on the Saliba red card: By Robert Summerscales Raheem Sterling is the man to be sacrificed as Jakub Kiwior comes on to shore up the Arsenal backline. That's a shame for him and for the Gunners. Sterling had arguably been Arsenal's sharpest attacking player so far tonight. By Robert Summerscales Despite going down to 10 men and losing one of their centre backs, Arsenal have not yet made a change of personnel. Jakub Kiwior is warming up, though. By Robert Summerscales Referee Robert Jones is called over to the monitor. After reviewing several replays, he rules that William Saliba DID deny Evanilson a scoring chance. Saliba therefore becomes the third Arsenal player to be sent off this season. By Robert Summerscales William Saliba gets caught out of position and fouls Evanilson near the halfway line. Bournemouth fans want a red card for the denial of a clear scoring opportunity. The referee says yellow card. However, the VAR is telling the official to wait. .. By Robert Summerscales Raheem Sterling gets the ball at his feet in the final third twice within the space of three minutes. Neither run leads to a shot but a clipped cross briefly has Kepa sweating in the Bournemouth goal. Arsenal have increased the speed of their passing recently and they are looking increasingly dangerous. By Robert Summerscales Not a huge chance but a pretty big error by the Arsenal keeper. David Raya gives the ball away with a loose pass, presenting Bournemouth with a promising opportunity. Alex Scott then tees up Antoine Semenyo, who misses the target from 25 yards. Good pressing by the home team. By Robert Summerscales Arsenal are the Premier League's corner specialists but Bournemouth pass their first set-piece test of the night. Declan Rice whips in a corner from the right and it's cleared at the second attempt with Gabriel and Co looming. It's been a quiet start so far. By Robert Summerscales Arsenal have had most of the possession early on but the first attack of note is a Bournemouth one. Ben White fouls Alex Scott on the Arsenal right, giving the Cherries a free-kick in a promising area. The delivery is decent but the defending by Riccardo Calafiori is even better and Arsenal clear. By Robert Summerscales Both sets of players take a knee before the game gets underway amid roars of encouragement from all four modest stands at the Premier League's smallest stadium. By Robert Summerscales Chris Sutton is backing a 1-1 draw but I reckon Arsenal will have way too much for the Cherries in what is likely to be an open game. I fancy the Gunners to go top in style tonight. I'm going to say 3-1 to Arteta's men. Either way, we are about to find out. .. By Robert Summerscales Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta speaking to Sky Sports about his decision not to select Bukayo Saka: Arteta on handing Mikel Merino his full debut: Arteta on Ben White returning from injury: By Robert Summerscales Tonight's game at the Vitality Stadium will round off a busy day of Premier League action. It started with Spurs thrashing West Ham, who scored first in North London. Aston Villa, Leicester and Man United then also came from behind to win, while there were victories for Everton and Brighton too. A win for Arsenal would take them top of the table, above Man City and Liverpool - who are both in action tomorrow. Meanwhile, Bournemouth will move into the top half (ahead of Man United) if they get three points tonight. Tottenham 4-1 West Ham Fulham 1-3 Aston Villa Man United 2-1 Brentford Newcastle 0-1 Brighton Southampton 2-3 Leicester Ipswich 0-2 Everton By Robert Summerscales Despite their injury issues, the bookies make Arsenal strong favourites to pick up three points today. The Gunners have won their last five games against Bournemouth 3-0, 4-0, 3-2, 3-0 and 2-1. Mikel Arteta's men are also unbeaten in all competitions this season (7 wins, 3 draws), while Bournemouth have recorded two wins, two draws and four losses. By Robert Summerscales Saka is not the only star player missing for Arsenal today. With skipper Martin Odegaard also ruled out with an injury - an ankle issue - centre back Gabriel will wear the captain's armband. By Robert Summerscales Bournemouth XI: Kepa; Araujo, Zabarnyi, Sensei, Kerkez; Cook, Scott; Tavernier, Dango, Semenyo, Evanilson Subs: Travers, Hulsen, Brooks, Christie, Adams, Smith, Sinisterra, Kluivert, Unal Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Rice, Partey, Merino, Sterling, Trossard, Havertz Subs: Setford, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Martinelli, Jesus, Kabia By Robert Summerscales Good afternoon! Arsenal have arrived on the South Coast for this evening's game but they are missing their star boy. Mikel Arteta said yesterday that Saka's injury - sustained during England's recent defeat by Greece - was 'not serious'. However, his absence today will feel like a big blow to Gunners fans. Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group