Joshua King has the Cherries' first effort of the night, a bobbly shot from 25 yards that Petr Cech is able to watch comfortably wide. 

There are still four sprinklers on the pitch at the Bet365 - they have been soaking the turf for at last 45 minutes. How slick does Mark Hughes want it?

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal's first attack is typically crisp and energetic, with Alexis Sanchez spreading the ball out to Hector Bellerin, and his cross is well headed out by Nathan Ake. Moments later Aaron Ramsey is close to collecting another smart pass from Sanchez. 

Steve Claridge
Ex-Leicester striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Bournemouth are 4-4-2 and it is Eddie Howe saying we are going to put it on them. They will try to get it in the channels as much as possible and get the two forwards running after it.

A bouncing atmosphere and a lively start from the hosts as they try to pen the Arsenal defence in early on. Don't let the Gunners play, that's the plan thus far. 

And we are off!

Image source, Reuters

Olivier Giroud, fresh from his wonder goal last time out, says what I presume is a lengthy prayer as he holds his head in his hands in the centre-circle. Almost time to get the show on the road. 

The players are in the tunnel in Bournemouth - don't forget that the other two games tonight kick-off a touch later at 20:00 GMT. 

Geoff Ramm: As a Black Cat fan, what we need is Hulk in defence, Spiderman on the wing and Superman up front!  

Emmanuel:  Arsenal need a new manager, no matter the kind of player we bought under the current manager we can't win Premier League 

Shanmugaraja: Arsenal need  full-back,should be equally good at right and left.  

Mitch will have known that stat about Gerry Peyton without having to look it up too. 

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport at Vitality Stadium

Cherries fans of a certain age may recognise Arsenal's goalkeeping coach who has been putting Petr Cech and his team-mates through their paces. It's Gerry Peyton, who played over 200 league games for Bournemouth under Harry Redknapp between 1986 and 1991, and was ever-present when they won the old Third Division back in 1987.

Image source, BBC Sport

Looking for a new project for the start of 2017? How about getting fit/fitter with a chance to earn a ticket to the FA Cup final?

BBC Get Inspired has again teamed up with the Football Association to launch the 2017 FA People's Cup, a free knockout competition that will give the people of England the chance to play in their version of the FA Cup. 

From Sunday League regulars to folk who have only kicked a ball in their back yard everyone can take part.

Find out more and sign up here.

Crystal Palace defender Damien Delaney is back after a suspension and replaces Scott Dann (hamstring), while Joe Ledley comes in for Mathieu Flamini in midfield.

Palace have Wilfried Zaha and Bakary Sako available before the pair go off to the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast and Mali respectively. Zaha starts, with Sako on the bench.

Crystal Palace: Hennessey, Kelly, Delaney, Tomkins, Ward, Puncheon, Ledley, Townsend, Cabaye, Zaha, C Benteke.

Image source, .

Swansea first-team coach Alan Curtis has picked the team tonight and has made four changes from the side that lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth on 31 December.

In come Federico Fernandez, Jack Cork, Jay Fulton and Wayne Routledge in place of Jordi Amat, Leon Britton, Nathan Dyer and Leroy Fer.

Swansea: Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Mawson, Taylor, Ki, Cork, Fulton, Routledge, Sigurdsson, Llorente.

Image source, .

Bournemouth

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe: "We like the evening games here. The crowd are good for us here and they are going to be really important to try to create an atmosphere that makes it difficult for Arsenal.

"We are going to miss a player of Jack Wilshere's quality. He has been outstanding for us in recent games. Hopefully, we will find a way to manage without him. We have some good players coming into the team and, hopefully, they will show that.

"We have to get our off the ball patterns right. We have to make it difficult for them to play their normal game and stop tem getting into a rhythm. Having said that we have also got to cause them a threat at the other end."

On Benik Afobe: "We haven't had the relevant clearance from DR Congo yet. They've accepted Benik's decision to stay here and play his club football for us but we are still waiting for the relevant clearance and until we get that he won't be available."

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal can move ahead of Manchester City and into third tonight with a win at Bournemouth - but the Cherries have been impressive at home this season.

Eddie Howe's side have won five of their last eight Premier League home games - the same tally that they managed in their first 20 games at home in the competition.

Dino: Sissoko is a good player but not a 30m player! let Everton have him!   

Jawad Kayani: Arsenal need Cazorla replacement & I want Miralem Pjanic to replace him  

Kerron Cross: As a #watfordfc, external fan, we need to stop conceding. Let's sign Trevor Evans from Pontypandy, at least he knows how to park the bus!  

Niche, but fantastic, Fireman Sam reference, Kerron...

Swansea City

Swansea caretaker manager Alan Curtis: "Paul Clement popped his head in this afternoon to introduce himself and spoke really well about what he expects between now and the end of the season.

"He was very, very positive. He could have stayed at Bayern Munich but he felt he was up for the challenge here. Any change of management can lift the group of players and I sense that already. Full steam ahead."

Stoke City forward Marko Arnautovic returns to Mark Hughes' starting XI after a three-match ban, while Jon Walters is the Potters' only other change from defeat at Chelsea last time out.

Midfielders Xherdan Shaqiri and Ibrahim Afellay drop to the bench.

Stoke XI: Grant; Johnson, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Diouf, Allen, Adam, Pieters, Arnautovic, Crouch, Walters.  

Image source, .

Watford forward Odion Ighalo misses out, having been a late replacement for Juan Zuniga before the Hornets' defeat against Tottenham.

Watford make three changes with defender Craig Cathcart replaced by Miguel Britos, while Christian Kabasele and Valon Behrami come in for Ighalo and the injured Nordin Amrabat.

Watford: Gomes, Kaboul, Prödl, Kabasele, Britos, Doucoure, Guedioura, Behrami, Capoue, Holebas, Deeney.  

Image source, .

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport at Vitality Stadium

The official explanation, external from Bournemouth for Benik Afobe's absence is that he has not received international clearance from the Democratic Republic of Congo for him to feature, having withdrawn from their Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) squad - the latest twist in a stop-start international career.

Born in Leyton, Afobe represented his native England up to Under-21 level, but chose to switch allegiance to DR Congo last year - only for his debut to be cancelled. Having travelled to Africa in November, he was unable to play after the English FA sent his paperwork to the "wrong" Congo.

Now, having decided to withdraw from the Afcon to concentrate on his club career, a lack of clearance has meant that while he is still uncapped at full international level, he can't play for his club tonight.

Arsenal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "We try to bring in some fresh legs without disturbing the balance of the team too much.

"At the moment Cheslea win every game. We have not to focus too much on the table but on our performance and the result. That is all we can do and what we will try to do tonight - take it game by game.

"I haven't seen him (Mesut Ozil) for a week. It was an easy decision. He is still in bed. He's not available and I don't think he will be available for the next game as he hasn't done anything for a week."

Mesut Ozil is ill.