Bournemouth v Arsenal: FA Cup fourth round prediction, odds and free tip

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Bournemouth v Arsenal in the FA Cup fourth round.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 8pm Monday

Best bet

Arsenal
2pts 10-11 Coral, Ladbrokes
Back this tip with Coral here

Team news

Bournemouth
David Brooks (ankle), Jordon Ibe (hamstring), Junior Stanislas (calf), Charlie Daniels and Chris Mepham (both knee) are sidelined but Steve Cook is available after suspension. Josh King and Jack Stacey (both hamstring) are doubts.

Arsenal
Sead Kolasinac (thigh) and Reiss Nelson (hamstring) are major doubts and Calum Chambers (knee), Kieran Tierney (shoulder) are long-term absentees. David Luiz and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are suspended but Sokratis (illness) could return.

Match preview

Arsenal's standards have slipped over the last 15 years but they have remained successful in the FA Cup, lifting the trophy three times in the last six years, and can maintain their challenge this season by winning at Bournemouth.

When Arsenal were consistently challenging for Premier League titles in the early years of the Arsene Wenger era, now the domestic cups offer their best chance of silverware.

With a top-four finish looking increasingly unlikely, the Gunners' players should be under no illusions about the importance of their trip to the south coast.

Mikel Arteta named a strong side for the third-round clash at home to Leeds despite it coming at the end of the frantic Christmas period, and he is likely to take the same approach for the Bournemouth game.

Top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang completes a three-game ban but his midweek absence did not prevent Arteta's side digging out an excellent 2-2 draw at Chelsea on Tuesday.

Arsenal started poorly at Stamford Bridge and looked set for a heavy defeat after David Luiz conceded a 26th-minute penalty, prompting referee Stuart Attwell to brandish a red card.

But they played with hunger, spirit and intelligence after going down to ten men and were rightly proud of their efforts.

The shot count was 19-2 in Chelsea's favour but the second half was fairly even, which is a huge credit to the work Arteta must have done at the break.

Arsenal's results under the Spaniard (two wins, five draws and one defeat) have not been especially eye-catching but their performances are improving.

High-earners Nicholas Pepe and Mesut Ozil are becoming more influential and look strong candidates to make match-winning contributions against the Cherries, who have kept just one clean sheet in their last eight matches.

Bournemouth picked up a massive three points in the battle against relegation by defeating Brighton 3-1 on Tuesday but they were still far from convincing.

They lost the shot count 21-11 and had to rely on a man-of-the-match display from goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who produced several stunning saves.

Despite that victory they are third from bottom and have a massive match on Saturday when fifth-bottom Aston Villa are the visitors.

Cherries boss Eddie Howe is having to cope with an ongoing injury crisis and must consider the risks of losing further personnel.

Key players with minor niggles could be held back for the weekend and that should make life easier for Arsenal, who look solid odds-on favourites.

Key stat

Bournemouth have reached the FA Cup fifth round just once in the last 30 years.

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