And so to the Vitality Stadium for our first match in what we all hope will be an epochal 2026. There we shall face a spluttering AFC Bournemouth in Saturday’s early evening game.
The Cherries have not won a match since their victory over Forest in late October. Their draw at the Bus Stop on Tuesday, although one of their better performances recently, extended their winless streak to ten games, evenly divided between draws and defeats. This has dropped them to fifteenth in the league. However, they are still closer in points to European qualification than to relegation.
That is paradoxical performance for a club whose manager, 43-year-old Andoni Iraola, is widely regarded as one of the most up-and-coming of the up-and-coming managers in the Premier League. His name is usually in the frame when there is a managerial vacancy at a major club or at The Bus Stop or in the Middlesex Marshlands. The gentlemen of the turf have him as joint third favourite to replace Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid, for example.
His reputation has been established on cementing Bournemouth’s place in the top flight since he arrived from Rayo Vallecano in July 2023. A 12th-placed finish in his first season was followed by ninth last term.
This season was inevitably going to be one of rebuilding. In the summer, the club sold four of its best barely-20-somethings, Ilya Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez and Dango Ouattara, to PSG, Real Madrid, Liverpool and Brentford (!), respectively, for €215.2 million. Another six squad members were shipped out, including Neto. Having been returned to the South Coast with barely any additional wear and tear after spending a season warming our bench, he was let go on a free, and is now warming the bench for Botafogo in Brazil’s Serie A.
Iraola also faces the loss of his leading goalscorer, Antoine Semenyo. The Ghana international’s €74.5 million 10-day release clause kicked in with the arrival of the New Year. Bournemouth’s cunning plan is to prevent the Oil-landers triggering it until after the matches against us and then the neighbours on the 7th. At the time of writing, their plan is on track.
A short history
There isn’t much history between the clubs to regale you with, dear reader. Saturday’s match will be just the 19th competitive fixture between the two sides. Bournemouth has won three of the previous 18, although those wins include two from last season, when, somewhat surprisingly, they were the only team to complete the league double over us. Six points that should not have been given up proved costly.
The Cherries first reached the top flight under Eddie Howe in 2015, and the only first-team game before that was a League Cup tie in 1987, when ‘arry Rednapp was Bournemouth’s lubbly-jubbly manager.
The gimlet-eyed among you might have noticed the ‘first-team’ qualifier slipped into the previous paragraph. Our reserves played a friendly against Boscombe in 1931, and then competitive reserve-team football during the 1930s after the Dorset club, then playing in the old Third Division South, also joined the London Combination, a league for Football League club’s reserve teams.
If you care to read Bournemouth’s origin story as Boscombe FC in the dying embers of the Victorian era and the club’s shameless attempt to elevate itself above us, at least alphabetically, by prefixing its name with AFC, you can find it here (https://www.goonerholicsforever.com/?p=9549).
The opposition
Serbia’s second-choice keeper, Djordje Petrovic, is Bournemouth’s first-choice glove-buttler, even though his form has been far from immaculate since arriving from the Bus Stop for €28 million in the summer.
Ahead of him, Iraola has been juggling to find a new back four, not helped by losing Veljko Milosavljevic, the promising teenage centre-back bought in the summer for €15 million from Red Star to injury.
At Chelsea, Iraola played Álex Jiménez, a Spain U-21 international who is on loan from AC Milan, at right back with 23-year-old Bristol-born James Hill, who has been in and out of the squad, and Marcos Sensei, who joined the club shortly after winning the first of his two Argentina caps in 2022, in the middle, and Adrien Truffert, who has five France caps, all for the TH14-managed France team at the 2024 Olympics, on the left.
In the previous game, at Brentford, he played veteran club captain Adam Smith at right back with Jiménez playing as an attacking midfielder, and Bafodé Diakité, a 24-year-old who has been on the fringe of France’s age-group teams, and a summer buy from Lille for €35 million, at right centre back, with Hill on the bench.
The improved performance against Chelsea may lead Iraola to keep his back four unchanged. Yet, regardless of its configuration, Bournemouth’s defence has conceded 35 goals in 19 games. Only the three clubs in the relegation zone have been more porous.
Tyler Adams would have been a starting DM, but is out with a torn MCL. Central midfielders, Lewis Cook and Ryan Christie, are also injury doubts, Christie more than Cook, but leaving Marcus Tavernier and Alex Scot likely to man the engine room. That would further denude central midfield, with just Patrick Kluivert available.
Bournemouth is reportedly looking to sign Ethan Nwaneri to bolster its midfield. Arteta’s face instantly switched to his portcullis-down, drawbridge-up hard stare when asked about Nwaneri in his pre-match press conference.
Iraola also has Scotland international winger Ben Gannon-Doak, bought in the summer from Liverpool for €23.2 million, off-games. Welsh international David Brooks, who scored against Chelsea, is one option for the right wing. On the left, in the unlikely event there is a Semenyo-shaped hole, Iraola will likely fill it with the French-born former Moroccan international Amine Adli, a summer signing from Leverkusen for €21.0 million. Teenage France U21 forward Eli Kroupi could also be called upon, should Iraola prefer to use the left-footed Adli as an inverted winger on the right.
Up front, the Brazilian Evanilson will likely start. Turkiye international Enes Unal, bought in 2024 as a long-term replacement for Dominic Solanke, who so tragically went missing without trace in the Middlesex Marshes last season, has not yet been able to re-establish himself in the side after missing the start of the season with a cruciate ligament tear.
The Arsenal
Not surprisingly, sticking four goals past Villa on Tuesday brought a renewed spring to the step of our side, or at least of those fit enough to take to a football pitch. Arteta says their number will not include Riccardo Calafiori this weekend. It may or may not include Declan Rice, whose knee remains swollen.
If Rice is not 110% fit, I would start Merino. We’ll need a fully firing Rice against the Scousers next Thursday. And after all, as one numerically challenged TV pundit said recently, ‘Zubimendi and Merino…that’s three-quarters of Spain’s midfield’.
The only selection questions not related to injuries are whether Viktor Gyökeres or Jesùs should start as the nine and can Kai Havertz get some minutes?
Thus:
Raya
Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapié
Ødegaard, Merino, Zubimendi
Saka, Gyökeres, Trossard
Manchester City’s draw with Sunderland means that, for the first time in a couple of games, we are sure to start the match still at the top. Not that this makes it any less of a must-win game.
For all their recent discombobulation, Bournemouth have lost just once at home this season. However, we should have enough for Arteta to put one over his boyhood teammate. Our hosts lack height and physicality, especially when defending set pieces, so it’s an ideal time for Big Gabbi to be back. A 2-0 away victory would be a promising start to a new year carrying high expectations.
Enjoy the game, ‘holics, near and far.
Thanks Ned
We should have enough to get this one over the line – I’ll see your 2-0 and up it to 3.
UTA
Thanks Ned, comprehensive run through of Bournemouth current problems
and our own selection issues, and thanks too for the Predictathon update
in the last drinks. An industrious start to the New Year at the castle!
Talking of the last drinks, well-in for the first fifty of the year TTG
and cheers c100 for the enjoyable happy faces link.
It was really annoying to be rolled over twice by this mob last season, I remember Saliba getting an early red at their place, but they did have a fair side and still play decent football despite selling many of that team. Hopefully we learned our lessons last season and will add another slice of revenge to our New Year pie.
I’ll be happy with 2-0 as predicted and also Ned’s expected XI if Declan doesn’t
make it back.
Destiny 3 points I would posit. 2-0 should do the trick quite nicely and efficiently. Shall Ode and Zubi be given a chance to reprise their magic combo?
Thanks Ned for an excellent preview and Cheers!
Firstly I failed to acknowledge Depressed Gooner in the last drinks for which I apologise . Nice to see you here DG and a Happy New Year to you .
Great preview Ned featuring a club that has done remarkably well to retain PL status with tiny grounds and an exit door which is frequently in use . It is a tough, tight ground but hopefully with several days rest and a pretty full complement of players ( I would leave Rice out too) I hope we can achieve a solid victory which which extend our lead to seven points until C115y play Chavski ( and perhaps beyond?) . I’d start Jesus using Gyokeres from the bench . This is where it started for Arteta in 2019. Let’s hope we do a professional job
‘Twas going well until I arrived at “have only lost once at home…….” there, Ned. However, like you, I’m confident that The Arsenal will be able to degrade that statistic when kick off rolls around in Bournemouth at 12.30 am tomorrow my time.
Like Matt, I remember only too well the Leo mis-kick that resulted in Saliba putting in a giant man sized sliding tackle, 45 yards from goal, that resulted in Webb leaping from his seat in the stand beside the Bournemouth Chairman and phoning in “It’s a straight red card from Howard” to his VAR underlings for preventing a goal scoring opportunity. And this whilst speedster Ben White was already galloping back to cover the threat. One of five loopy PGMOL contributions to our opponent’s title win last year.
I had forecast the Cherries to do quite well this season (one of the reasons I’m languishing just outside the relegation zone) but I am most certainly not hoping for any improvement in this component of my Predictathon challenge over this stage of the competition.
A win will be wonderful please, Gunners.
Thanks Ned for such a detailed walkthrough of this weekend’s opponents. Last season’s “double” damaged our title challenge significantly and that kind of lapse (aided by misfortune) we can hardly afford again.
When Bournemouth came up to PL and I read about them first — I think it was one of your historically illuminating previews — I expected them to have a trajectory similar to Blackpool which I think was back for one season, played some entertaining football and then went down again. But, as you said, they have done remarkably well for a club of their size and following and now in Arteta’s childhood friend Iraola have a talented manager who, if he stays, is certain to keep the team up at least for one more season. The club itself must have been very well managed as well, Wolves this season is a clear example of what mismanagement can do.
I like and agree with your team, but maybe give Eze a start instead of Merino against a team where he would likely get more opportunities to build his match confidence and also impact the proceedings creatively? I suspect Gyökeres will start this one and if he doesn’t get the goal(s) he needs to find his feet in the team, irrespective of the result Jesus will start against Liverpool.
I would have also preferred that Saka gets a break — who looks not as sharp as his usual self, though he still ends up having moments of match deciding influences —but given the potency of his corners especially with big Gabi back, I suspect he will start. But if we can establish a good enough lead early enough we should Madueke brought in earlier in the second half.
Raya
Timber-Saliba-Gabriel-Hincapié
Ødegaard-Zubimendi-Eze
Saka-Gyökeres-Trossard
A controlled and clinical 2-0 (let’s get back to the good habit of clean sheets) away win would do fine.
Come on Arsenal!
@8 Dr F, Kai Havertz is looming large in my thinking for a cameo substitution today then a hat trick starting role against the Dippers on Thursday. Wouldn’t that be quite something?
Cheers Ned!
I had totally blanked not getting a single point from them last season. Time to right this wrong.
3-0.
And a Happy New Year to you all.
An illuminating and entertaining preview, Ned, as usual. I was looking at home vs away stats this morning and note your stat above that Bournemouth have only lost once at home. This raised my concern level enough for me to look at who they have played at home this season. This rather lifted my heart, as of their 9 home games, 7 have been against sides from the bottom half of the division, including all of the bottom 4. The remaining 2 from the top half are Chelsea and Everton, the latter of which beat them. Lies, damn lies and statistics? I hope not.
COYR’s.
Thanks for another comprehensive preview, Ned. I am happy with your starting XI but hope that we achieve a winning position by the hour so that we see early rests for Timber, Ødegaard, Saka, Gyökeres and Trossard in favour of White, Eze, Madueke, Jesùs and Havertz. Two or three nil would be delightful but I will , of course, take the three points any which way.
CER @9’s footnote contextualising their home record is an extremely valuable contribution to my confidence.
Thanks, Ned – an informative and enjoyable read as ever. Those monks must be on overtime lately – and presumably on double corn flakes to boot.
As for Bournemouth’s state of discombobulation, I see a naming rights opportunity here – they could re-brand themselves as Bournemouth and Boscombobulation … just a thought !
I remember going into some – probably too much – detail about Bournemouth’s new ownership structure in a previous preview. It features billionaires, American film stars and a multinational, multi-club structure, all set to rise up and conquer leagues around Europe. None of that seems to quite tarry either the sales and recruitment you’ve highlighted in this piece, does it ? Were I a Cherries fan I would be fearing slim pickings.
Have you heard his new single, by the way ?
I’ll grab my coat in the way out and prepare to write up another 4-1 win. Blow it – make that 4-0. Any advance on 4 Noosa ?
Trev@13: 👏👏👏
As several people have noted this was a most illuminating preview. Could be because Ned had the monks put the first draft on a medieval illuminated manuscript. If so is there a pdf available? Just curious
Re: the Ropey League. It appears that the Zubi Zubi Dudes made the rather basiic error last week of not picking Zubimendi in the week he scored his scrumptious goal. Task. Still I really shouldn’t talk as the ZZD’s are well ahead of my entry in the table, nor did I pick Zubimendi…
Thanks for the kind words, all.
To CER’s point, this is Bournemouth’s home record this season:
W 1-0 v Wolves
W 2-1 v Brighton
D 0-0 v Newcastle
W 3-1 v Fulham
W 2-0 v Notts Forest
D 2-0 v West Ham
L 0-1 v Everton
D 0-0 v Chelsea
D 1-1 v Burnley
Cheers Ned for another impeccable preview – let’s hope the team replicate their 2cnd half performance v The Villains at the Vitality this evening. Your team selection and Noosa’s scoreline will do very nicely.
Last seasons defeats need to be avenged and although it’s not the easiest of places to visit we should be capable of coming away with all 3 points – unless Howard Webb is in the stands with his phone in his hands!
Big shout out to Trev with his “bobs” 👏👏
COYRRR
bt8@15: Here is a rare medieval photograph of a corner of the scriptorium where the palimpsest and decorative foundation scrolls, or PDFs as you call them, are produced. Very excited about the potential of our next-gen ambidextrous illuminators (bottom left).
Rice back and Saka and Leo rested:
Team news
Ned’s is prettier
An extraordinary half. We need to get back on the rails in the second half.
Re: Ned @19. That’s an extraordinarily well lit scriptorium. Candle power to the fore. 😎
Not our best performance but three points that cannot be taken from us. Onward.
And we sorted it in the second half.
Big three points.
Three points is three points — and points mean prizes!
Colossal win after a nightmare start . Cold night, heavy press from the home team, desperate early mistake , inconsistent ref , last year’s negative memories , pressure of an intense title race – so much could have gone wrong but we overcame the problems and took three more points . 100% record this year !
excellent preview, ned, and likewise the win (regardless of the heavy going).
it’s what wins titles.
we have now taken 15 more points than from the same fixtures compared to last year.
With the exception of a few outliers the Premier League table is sorting itself into some semblance of alphabetical order at the moment. At least Arsenal and Aston Villa are top and Wolverhampton are bottom. Admittedly it would be nicer to see Tottenham sink to their proper alphabetical order of course, which would see them relegated along with West Ham and Wolves.
Not much other than alphabetical resorting looks like it is likely to save Burnley from relegation, but what a boon for Burnley alphabetical resorting could be. Manchester City and Sunderland would likely be a tad less enthusiastic about it on the other hand, but at least al-Citeh115 also have the possibility of a massive points deduction to send them tumbling down the table.
I completely agree with not letting Bournemouth have any of this AFC Bournemouth nonsense.
I think only Aldershot have ever been legitimately ahead of us alphabetically but then Dennis punished them severely for their impertinence.
OM@33: It is handy in that regard that Aberdeen is in foreign parts.
@34 Absolutely, alongside Airdrieonians, Alloa and Arbroath
>>>>>>>