Follow live coverage as Arsenal face AFC Bournemouth today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Arsenal FC 1 - 0 AFC Bournemouth
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
18:23
Rice celebrates his 100th Arsenal appearance in style, with his 34th-minute finish the only thing separating the hosts and Bournemouth at the interval. It was the visitors who took the early initiative, leading the possession stats while getting it forward early at every opportunity in hopes of releasing Ouattara and Tavernier. A pair of good opportunities at the quarter-hour mark could have left the Gunners ahead, and the Cherries followed up with a gilt-edged chance of their own, only for Evanilson to fire his point-blank header over the bar. Iraola’s side will also feel aggrieved that a penalty decision didn’t go their way, and the misery was compounded 120 seconds later when Rice popped up to break the deadlock. Arsenal lead the way in xG 0.95 to 0.53 but it’s still anyone’s game with 45 minutes left to play.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
18:19
HALF-TIME: ARSENAL 1-0 BOURNEMOUTH
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
18:17
The fourth official indicates two minutes will be added to the end of the half for stoppages.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
18:17
Raya takes up a position outside his penalty area and rolls the ball towards Odegaard, only for Ouattara to react quicker and win it back. He immediately picks out Evanilson, who looks to take advantage of the goalkeeper being off his line, only to chip an effort that loops over the crossbar.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
18:15
A KEY DEFLECTION KEEPS ARSENAL AHEAD! Ouattara dances past Partey in midfield before playing it forward to Kluivert, who steps inside from the left with intent. The forward skips past White to open space before firing a shot from a central area 20 yards from goal that takes enough of a touch off Saliba to carry the ball over the crossbar!
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
18:13
Cook again sends his set-piece delivery to the edge of the penalty area, this time for Huijsen, who chests it down but in doing so, allows Odegaard to clear.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
18:12
Partey mistimes his challenge and brings Tavernier down in the right channel, giving Bournemouth a free-kick just inside Arsenal’s half.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
18:10
Martinelli scoops a first-time pass into Bournemouth’s defensive third from the halfway line but nobody reads his intentions, allowing the ball to drift slowly towards the awaiting Kepa on the edge of his area.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
18:10
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 38 Premier League games when scoring first (30 wins and eight draws) since a 2-1 loss at Fulham in December 2023.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
18:06
Bournemouth’s appeals for a penalty go unnoticed by referee Jarred Gillett, who waives play on after Saliba’s sliding challenge from behind leaves Ouattara down on the pitch. VAR has a look at the incident as well and decides to uphold the decision on the pitch, as there was just enough contact with the ball to make it a clean tackle.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
18:05
Goal Declan Rice
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
18:05
SUPER SAVE FROM KEPA! Martinelli drops his shoulder to get to the byline ahead of Araujo before standing up a cross to the edge of the six-yard box. Trossard gets there first ahead of a diving Kerkez and puts his low header on target, but a quick-thinking Kepa makes the stop on the goal-line!
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
18:01
No side have conceded fewer goals in the opening 20 minutes of games across the Premier League this season than Bournemouth (five, alongside Everton).
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
18:00
Saka receives the ball with his back to goal inside the penalty area and brings Martinelli into play after Kerkez’s miscontrol in a defensive area, but the forward is unable to work the goalkeeper despite lax marking from the Bournemouth defence.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:58
BOURNEMOUTH SQUANDER THE BEST CHANCE SO FAR! Kerkez is given time and space on the left flank to shape an inviting cross to the penalty spot, where Evanilson gets the better of Kiwior and leaves the centre-back on the ground. The striker makes great contact from point-blank range and looks to beat Raya high down the middle with his header, but he flashes his opportunity over the crossbar!
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:57
Cook stands over the set-piece and raises two arms before sending the free-kick to the edge of the 18-yard box, where it’s met and repelled by Saliba.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:56
Cook’s raking diagonal out to the right looks to put Tavernier in position to trouble Lewis-Skelly, but a rather uncoordinated coming-together leaves the pair on the ground and forces the referee to award Arsenal a free-kick to clear their lines.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:53
Arsenal have won all eight of their home games against Bournemouth in all competitions, scoring 23 goals and conceding just four.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:51
LOVELY WORK ALMOST LEADS TO A GOAL! White advances down the right wing with the ball at his feet and plays it into Saka before continuing his run into the 18-yard box towards the byline. Using quick feet reminiscent of Iniesta’s signature skill, Saka returns it to his team-mate in space, but the ensuing cross is cleared off the line by Zabarnyi!
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:49
Martinelli again proves too tricky for Araujo, who requires support from Adams to close down the space. Recognising the gap in midfield, the Brazil international plays the ball square to Rice, whose half-volley from 20 yards out is sent well wide.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:48
Arsenal have won all eight of their home games against Bournemouth in all competitions, scoring 23 goals and conceding just four.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:47
RICE DRAGS WIDE! Odegaard puts the ball on his left foot and plays it between the lines for Martinelli, who uses his first touch to hit a pass into the penalty area for Rice. The England international gets there first ahead of both Araujo and Huijsen and looks to guide a finish towards the far post, but he misses the target narrowly!
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:45
Tavernier is tasked with taking Bournemouth’s first corner of the match but his high delivery fails to put the Arsenal defence under pressure, as Huijsen is forced to keep the ball in play on the far side after failing to make contact with his attempted header.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:44
Araujo clips a cross towards the back post from the right with Ouattara attacking the space, but White gets ahead of the winger to put the ball out of play for a corner using his chest.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:42
Partey shrugs off the calls from the crowd to shoot and instead fires a pass into the feet of Odegaard before continuing his run into the penalty area, but he misplaces his initial ball and promptly gives it away in an attacking area.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:39
Partey’s switch of play out to the right for Saka is deflected by the covering Cook, which takes the ball into the path of Kerkez, who wins the header to clear his lines and keep possession.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:37
Bournemouth again use their centre-backs to get the ball long in hopes of finding a winger in space, but Ouattara is unable to bring Huijsen’s pass down from the sky and gives away a throw.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:36
Odegaard’s left-footed set-piece delivery from wide is easily nodded away by a stooping Araujo at the near post, who makes amends for the foul conceded.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:35
Araujo drags Martinelli to the ground on the left flank, giving Arsenal a free-kick in an advanced position.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:34
Ouattara gets the better of White and uses the space created to flash a cross into the Arsenal six-yard box, only for Raya to get to the delivery ahead of the lurking Evanilson.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:33
Zabarnyi launches it long down the right channel from inside his own half, looking to pick out Tavernier, but the winger is unable to prevent the ball from rolling behind for an early goal-kick.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:32
Bournemouth get the match under way from the kick-off!
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:16
Bournemouth make three alterations from the team that let a lead slip late to tie Manchester United 1-1 six days ago. Two changes on the right-hand side see Araujo and Tavernier come in for Smith and Semenyo at full-back and winger respectively, while Scott is dropped to the bench in favour of Cook in midfield.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:16
Arsenal make two changes from the side that drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace on April 23. A knock keeps Jurrien Timber out of the matchday squad ahead of PSG, giving White a chance to start at right–back, while Saka is preferred to Sterling on the right wing.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:16
BOURNEMOUTH SUBS: Marcos Senesi, David Brooks, Alex Scott, Adam Smith, Julio Soler, Daniel Jebbison, James Hill, Antoine Semenyo, Will Dennis.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:16
BOURNEMOUTH XI (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Milos Kerkez, Dean Huijsen, Illia Zabarnyi, Julian Araujo; Tyler Adams, Lewis Cook; Dango Ouattara, Justin Kluivert, Marcus Tavernier; Evanilson.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:16
ARSENAL SUBS: Kieran Tierney, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Mikel Merino, Raheem Sterling, Tommy Setford, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, Jimi Gower, Ethan Nwaneri, Brayden Clarke.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:16
ARSENAL XI (4-3-3): David Raya; Myles Lewis-Skelly, Jakub Kiwior, William Saliba, Ben White; Declan Rice, Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard; Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Bukayo Saka.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:16
With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, let’s take a look at how the two sides are lining up - starting with our hosts!
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:06
A patchy run of form at the tail-end of the season has seen Bournemouth drop from Champions League contention and fifth spot down to 10th in 10 matchweeks, thanks in part to four losses and four draws in that time. Andoni Iraola’s team have weathered the storm somewhat and have managed four-straight games without defeat (picking up six points in that time), including last weekend’s 1-1 tie that saw Rasmus Hojlund snatch a point for Manchester United in the sixth minute of additional time.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:06
Confirmation of Liverpool’s league title last weekend leaves Arsenal with relatively little to play for domestically with just four games to go despite a nine-match unbeaten run, though Mikel Arteta’s side will know there are still other prizes on offer. Sitting in second, three points ahead of Manchester City having played one match fewer, the Gunners will no doubt be keeping one eye on their midweek Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain, after losing the first leg 1-0 at home.
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
17:00
Hello and welcome to our LIVE commentary of the Premier League fixture between Arsenal and Bournemouth!
Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth
15:30
Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
