Bournemouth comeback sends Arsenal towards crisis point

Well that brings an end to our live coverage from the Vitality Stadium. Head to our live blog to keep abreast of Liverpool vs Man City.

But until next time, its goodbye.

Full time: Bournemouth 2-1 Arsenal

Arsenal's fortunes go from bad to worse as they go a fourth game without win as Bournemouth claim their first ever Premier League win over the Gunners.

Hector Bellerin put the visitors ahead but Callum Wilson inspired the comeback with a goal and an assist for Jordon Ibe.

Alexis Sanchez is seemingly on his way but how close is Arsene Wenger to joining him? Arsenal's top four challenge looks dead and buried.

Arsenal look spent here. No late comeback a la last season imminent here.

Four added minutes to be played.

Granit Xhaka hits one from 30 yards but he skews it well wide.

Bournemouth trying to run down time as the former Gunner Benik Afobe come on for Callum Wilson, who has a goal and an assist to his name.

Jordon Ibe celebrates putting Bournemouth ahead.

Callum Wilson nips in to draw Bournemouth level.

GOAL! Bournemouth 2-1 Arsenal (Jordon Ibe)

The turnaround is complete at the Vitality and after Bournemouth heading for their first Premier League win over Arsenal? Substitute Lys Mousett brings the ball down and tees up the onrushing Ibe who hammer through Cech.

GOAL! Bournemouth 1-1 Arsenal (Callum Wilson)

The Cherries are rewarded for a marked improvement in this second half and level it up with just over 20 minutes left. Ryan Fraser' delicious cross from the right sees Wilson nip in ahead of Petr Cech and slide into an empty net. Game on.

Hector Bellerin opens the scoring for Arsenal.

GOAL! Bournemouth 0-1 Arsenal (Hector Bellerin)

Simon Francis gets caught out badly down the Bournemouth left and it allows Bellerin to break in behind and he draws Begovic, who gets a hand on his shot but it wriggles underneath him and into the net.

Back under way at the Vitality Stadium. No changes at half time.

Half time: Bournemouth 0-0 Arsenal

After all the pre-match talking points, this is a game low on key incidents as we head for half-time. Chances have been few and far between, with Ryan Fraser and Danny Welbeck having the best for either side.

Alex Iwobi did handle from a corner which could have led to a penalty, but appeals were waved away. Jack Wilshere meanwhile has run the show on his return to the south coast.

Bournemouth earlier wanted a penalty when Alex Iwobi appear to handle in the penalty area from a corner. It did seem a pretty clear one and every Cherries player to a man went up for it but Kevin Friend saw nothing untoward.

So close for Bournemouth as they finally threaten in the attacking third. It takes a despairing dive from Calum Chambers to keep Ryan Fraser from giving the hosts the lead after Ibe beats Maitland-Niles down the right.

A booking for Simon Francis, the second of the game for Bournemouth for pulling back Danny Welbeck.

The England striker picks himself up and has the best chance of the game so far, as Begovic makes a low save as he is put through. No goal in 11 top flight appearances for him.

Jack Wilshere has been key for Arsenal.

From a fine start to life in English football, now 10 hours since Alexandre Lacazette last scored a goal.

Jack Wilshere has been Arsenal's best player by a mile in this opening quarter. He chases down a lost cause to win a corner after he initially lost the ball on the edge of the penalty area.

Despite the wealth of attacking talent on show, Wilshere the only player on the field who looks like he could do something different in this game. Bit low on quality so far.

Yellow card for Dan Gosling as simulation. There was contact between the midfielder and Skhodran Mustafi but referee Kevin Friend was right on top of it and took the decision. The right one for me.

Arsene Wenger in the stands again as his touchline ban continues.

Jordon Ibe scampers clear for Bournemouth down the left-hand channel but in a move which sums up his career on the south coast his pass is wayward and Arsenal survive.

It is all Arsenal at the moment. Simon Francis' free-kick is easily dealt with by Cech and he sets the visitors on the attack immediately. It ends with Ake heading behind under pressure from Lacazette at the back post.

Asmir Begovic turns Iwobi's deflected shot behind for a corner, which Bournemouth clear. The hosts haven't had much of a kick so far.

OFF THE BAR! Arsenal have begun well here. Wilshere does brilliantly to create some space and find Lacazette. His cross finds Maitland-Niles coming in off the left. He twists and turns and just when it looks like the chance is gone he unleashes a shot which clips the top of the crossbar.

First effort in anger comes for Bournemouth as their full-back Adam Smith. It goes from one full-back to another as Charlie Daniels crosses for Smith, who brings the ball down and shoots just wide of Cech's left-hand post.

Arsene Wenger serves the final game of his three-match ban. After spending the Carabao Cup draw with Chelsea in the press box, he is today situation behind the dugout in the first row of the main stand. A better view than he had against Nottingham Forest that is for sure.

Under way at the Vitality Stadium.

Arsene Wenger heading into this game under major pressure.

Teams out at the Vitality Stadium. Almost ready to go in what is a big game for both sides.

Approaching kick-off on the south coast, so it is prediction time. Neither side have won a Premier League game this year, and both are missing key players. They shared six goals in the clash last season. So here goes....

Bournemouth 2-1 Arsenal

Include your predictions in the comments section. And be sure to remind me how wrong I was at full time. Or whenever suits you.

Great to see Jack Wilshere stay in the Arsenal team today. He went off with *another* injury against Chelsea in mid-week but he has come through that and starts this afternoon.

Can he force his way into the England squad in the remaining six months of the season? Few play like him in a Three Lions shirt.

Twenty-four defeats from 31 games against sides in the 'top six' in the Premier League for Bournemouth. That is a record that has to change if the Cherries are to stay in this league on a long-term basis.

A big-name scalp is one thing missing from Eddie Howe's CV, though they did beat Liverpool last season in that dramatic 4-3 success at the Vitality Stadium.

They of course drew 3-3 with Arsenal last season as the Gunners came from three goals down, but can Bournemouth strike the right balance between defence and attack today? It would be fair to say their team selection is on the cautious side.

Amid the absence of Sanchez, Arsenal have only made one change from the draw with Chelsea.

We saw the Blues really toil yesterday as they drew with Leicester after Antonio Conte made just two changes to his side.

All 10 outfield players who started at Stamford Bridge start again today, and could an all-action Bournemouth side take advantage of that in the latter stages?

No-one knows more about goings on at Arsenal than John Cross of The Daily Mirror. He says Alexis Sanchez is Manchester United-bound.

Jack Wilshere has returned to Arsenal from his loan spell at Bournemouth and has nailed down a place in the first team amid Aaron Ramsey's injury.

"It was a good year. I really enjoyed it. I've got some good friends in Bournemouth, the manager was great for me. I think it was good for me as a player and a person to experience that."

From a Bournemouth point of view Sanchez's omission is certainly a big boost for their survival bid. A transfer target of their own Harry Arter has been left out today - he is on the bench amid links with West Ham - but as they search to improve on a run of one win since mid-November they can't help but he encouraged by the raft of players missing for Arsenal today.

Arsene Wenger on Sky Sports: "He [Sanchez] is being vague at the moment so I left him at home.

"Yes [we are close to reaching a resolution]. Don't read too much into it because not even I know how it will go. You want to focus on the players who are on the pitch."

No doubt that is massive news from the Vitality Stadium, where Alexis Sanchez is not even in the squad to face Bournemouth. Have we seen the last of him in an Arsenal shirt?

Arsene Wenger said on Friday he would have no hesitation playing Sanchez amid the uncertainty over his future, but it appears even he has had to bite the bullet and drop the Chile international.

Just one change for Arsenal from the draw with Chelsea in the Carabao Cup. Petr Cech replaces David Ospina in goal. There is no Alexis Sanchez or Mesut Ozil. Aaron Ramsey and Saed Kolasinac return from injury and are on the bench.

Two changes for Bournemouth from their last Premier League outing at Brighton. Nathan Ake comes into a back five while Dan Gosling is recalled in midfield. Benik Afobe and Harry Arter miss out.

The Bournemouth team has dropped.

Teams news on the way from the Vitality...

At the other end, expect Callum Wilson to lead the Bournemouth attack this afternoon. It has been a superb return for the forward this season.

Word is that Eddie Nketiah is on the bench for Arsenal today, in the absence of Alexis Sanchez. Remember Mesut Ozil is also expected to miss out today. Big opportunity for Bournemouth.

And here is evidence of that. Surely Sanchez's departure this month is inevitable now.

Some early team news from the Vitality Stadium.

Arsenal are winless in 2018 after two draws with Chelsea in the league and Carabao Cup and defeat to Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup third round.

That loss at the City Ground raised further concerns over the future of Arsene Wenger and leaves the Gunners with only two pieces of silverware to fight for, while their pursuit of the top four is also on the brink of collapse.

They simply can't afford to slip up again this afternoon.

Preparations well under way at the Vitality Stadium ahead of kick-off.

Team news on the way from the Vitality Stadium, but how do we expect both sides to line up this afternoon?

Bournemouth could hand recalls to Joshua King and Junior Stanislas, who have recovered from respective hamstring injuries. But Jermain Defoe and Tyrone Mings are not yet fit despite returning to training.

Aaron Ramsey and Saed Kolasinac are fit again for Arsenal but Mesut Ozil is a major doubt. Rob Holding should be available but Alexis Sanchez could be omitted.

The first of two games on this Sunday in the Premier League sees two sides badly out of form clash at the Vitality Stadium. Bournemouth and Arsenal need points for vastly different reasons at either ends of the table in a game which has proven to be thrilling in the past.

The Cherries have only won once since mid-November in the Premier League which has seen the slip towards the bottom three. They stand one point above the drop zone at the start of play and amid their exciting brand of football Eddie Howe badly needs some results to back-up his progress on the south coast.

Arsenal meanwhile are close to being left for dust in the race for the top four and after Tottenham's win yesterday are five point off the top four, with Liverpool still to play later. An against the backdrop of speculation over Alexis Sanchez's future, Arsene Wenger badly needs a good news story.

All the build-up ahead of the 1:30pm kick-off on the way.