Overview
- Arsenal hold a four-point Premier League lead after a 4-1 win over Aston Villa, with Manchester City having drawn 0-0 at Sunderland.
- Mikel Arteta addressed Arsenal’s history of fading after New Year, urging his squad to “break it” as they enter a busy January.
- Declan Rice remains a doubt with a swollen knee that had “not yet” reduced, putting his involvement at Bournemouth in question.
- Set pieces remain a defining strength and a warning sign: 17 Premier League goals from corners in 2025, 20-plus set-piece goals in back-to-back years, and 11 of 37 league goals this season from dead balls.
- Arsenal visit a Bournemouth side on a club-record 10-game league winless run, with the early kickoff offering a chance to move seven points clear before City play.