IT WILL be an all-Basque touchline clash as Andoni Iraola’s AFC Bournemouth host Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal on Saturday.

The Cherries will hope to end the Gunners’ unbeaten start to the Premier League season in the Saturday late kick off at the Vitality Stadium.

Bournemouth will aim to beat Arsenal in the league for the first time since 2018, as they conceded seven goals without scoring against their visitors last season.

The Gunners travel to Dean Court unbeaten so far this season, one point off the summit of the Premier League.

The Daily Echo previews Saturday’s game.

Team News

Iraola’s squad has a clean bill of health, with everyone available for selection following Tyler Adams’ return to training over the international break, after his surgery in the summer.

Milos Kerkez was a slight doubt, but Iraola is expecting him to be available.

(Image: Richard Crease) For Arsenal, Mikel Arteta will be without Martin Odegaard, who is out with an ankle injury.

There were concerns over the fitness of Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Thomas Partey, as they all withdrew from their respective international squads, but all are expected to be available.

Head-to-Head

The Cherries do not have a good record against Arsenal.

In 15 games since 2015, Bournemouth only beaten the Gunners once, in a 2-1 victory over them at Dean Court in 2018.

Two games have ended all square, in January 2017 and December 2019, with 3-3 and 1-1 draws respectively.

Every other game the Gunners have won, with the North London club doing the league double over their hosts last term winning 4-0 at Dean Court in September and 3-0 at the Emirates.

The home result saw Bournemouth drop into the relegation zone after a disappointing start to Iraola’s tenure.

But it was a different story for the Cherries in London, as the south coast side were left fuming with key decisions, their midtable place by then secured.

Last Time Out

Bournemouth fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat away at Leicester in the final game before the international break, with Iraola’s men left to rue missed chances at the King Power Stadium.

Facundo Buonanotte opened the scoring inside the opening 20 minutes for the hosts, before the Cherries had 19 shots on goal but were unable to find the breakthrough.

(Image: Richard Crease) Arsenal beat Bournemouth’s south coast neighbours Southampton 3-1, after the Saints led through Cameron Archer.

It was 0-0 at the break at the Emirates Stadium, but Archer’s 55th minute goal was answered by a Havertz equaliser three minutes later, before Gariel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka completed the comeback victory.

AFC Bournemouth vs Arsenal kicks off at 5.30pm on Saturday, October 19 at the Vitality Stadium.

It will also be shown on Sky Sports.