Overview
The winning streak of the Vitality home team continues to extend to more than 10 matches, despite courageous efforts against the leading team Arsenal. The Cherries even had a dream start when Evanilson opened the score.
However, Gabriel Magalhaes' equalizer and Declan Rice's double helped Arsenal break their resistance and take control of the game. Eli Junior Kroupi's excellent finish was only enough to bring some comfort to Bournemouth in anger.
Bournemouth's frustration reached its peak when referee Chris Kavanagh blew the whistle to end the match right when they were about to cross the ball into the penalty area. But even if that situation led to an equalizer, it could not hide the alarming reality. The Cherries are still stuck in a long winningless streak.
11 unbeaten matches are Bournemouth's worst time in a Premier League season. However, thanks to the poor performance of the bottom three teams, the 15th-placed team is still closer to the top 5 in points compared to the relegation group.
Another notable detail is that 4 of Bournemouth's 5 Premier League wins in 2025-2026 all came at Vitality. But now, Iraola's team will have to face an opponent who can regain the position of "best away team in the league".
Only Arsenal (20 points) has a better away record than Spurs (18) in the Premier League this season. In the context that the "Gunners" will host Liverpool, a victory on the southern coast will help the White Spurs regain the top spot in away goals.
However, saying is easier than doing. Despite Bournemouth's problems, Thomas Frank's Tottenham is still disappointing in the winter season, and they have just dropped a bitter victory against newcomer Sunderland.
Brian Brobbey's cannon shot equalized 1-1 after Ben Davies opened the score. However, Sunderland this season also won points against Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, so that result is not necessarily a disaster for Frank.
But that could not soothe Spurs fans, when they witnessed their team struggling in 13th place. In the last 11 Premier League matches (both at home and away), the "Roosters" have only won 2 times.
The rare bright spot is that Tottenham is aiming for their third consecutive away game clean sheet in the Premier League - something they have not done since April 2022. However, Bournemouth's 1-0 victory in August means The Cherries are facing the opportunity to complete a double against North London for the first time in history.
Personnel situation
Bournemouth's experienced midfielder, Lewis Cook, has returned after a neck injury and promptly started from the bench in the match against Arsenal. This reappearance came at the right time, in the context that Justin Kluivert is predicted to be on long-term leave after knee surgery.
Bournemouth also continues to face a dense injury list. Tyler Adams (knee), Ben Gannon-Doak (muscles), Ryan Christie (knee), Matai Akinmboni (muscle) and Will Dennis (ankle) are all unable to participate.
Dennis' injury alone is one of the reasons why the club had to recruit former Spurs goalkeeper Fraser Forster, on a free transfer. The positive point is that young talent Veljko Milosavljevic has returned to training after a knee problem.
In the context that the 65 million pound transfer to Manchester City deal is still unfinished, Antoine Semenyo is likely to continue to be named in Iraola's registered list. And that could be his last appearance at Vitality in a red and black shirt.
On the opposite side, Semenyo is unlikely to have a confrontation with compatriot Mohammed Kudus. The Spurs winger suffered a thigh injury right in the first half of the Sunderland draw and is definitely sidelined this week.
Kudus is one of the six absent names from Tottenham at the moment, along with Yves Bissouma (AFCON), Pape Sarr (AFCON), Dejan Kulusevski (knee), James Maddison (knee) and Dominic Solanke (ankle). Good news for Spurs is that Destiny Udogie has returned to training after a thigh injury, while Xavi Simons has served a 3-match suspension.
The Dutch star is almost certain to return to the starting lineup to replace Kudus, while Lucas Bergvall may also be given a starting spot after Wilson Odobert was hit in the face in last weekend's match.
Expected lineup:
Petrovic, Jimenez, Hill, Senesi, Truffert, Cook, Scott, Semenyo, Tavernier, Brooks, Evanilson.
Vicario, Spence, Romero, Van de Ven, Davies, Gray, Bentancur, Simons, Bergvall, Tel, Richarlison.
The match between Bournemouth and Tottenham takes place at 2:30 AM on January 8 (Vietnam time).
