Antoine Semenyo looks set to join Manchester City from Bournemouth in this month's transfer window but he's still poised to feature against Arsenal this weekend
Ryan Taylor
13:36, 02 Jan 2026
Antoine Semenyo
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Antoine Semenyo has seemingly not played his last game for Bournemouth just yet
Andoni Iraola has revealed he expects Antoine Semenyo to play against both Arsenal and Tottenham before completing his transfer to Manchester City.
The two clubs have been finalising the finer details of the player's £65million switch to the Etihad Stadium, which is expected to happen in due course.
Yet despite City making a big push for the Ghana international, it appears nothing is imminent from Bournemouth's perspective particularly as the Cherries are now winless in 10 Premier League matches.
Speaking today ahead of the home clash against Arsenal, Iraola made it clear he expects Semenyo to play against the Gunners.
He said: "There are conversations but nothing is signed.
READ MORE: Tottenham transfer plans dealt blow after Pep Guardiola issues Man City injury updateREAD MORE: Mikel Arteta issues Declan Rice injury update as two Arsenal stars ruled out vs Bournemouth
"At least, he's going to be available in these two home games. We have a very short turnaround, and I hope he can be here for more time. A game against Arsenal will not be his farewell, no, that's not the idea."
Iraola also added when he was asked about speculation linking him with the Stamford Bridge hot-seat: "I am very happy here. My issues is not about these things. I want to improve the situation we have right now in this run."
Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta has also been speaking ahead of Arsenal's trip to Bournemouth.
He was asked about the Gunners' 2-0 defeat at the Vitality Stadium last term, to which he replied: "They were two very different games [last season]. Obviously a game that, until the 30th minute when [William] Saliba gets surprisingly sent off, it was a different game that we managed. We had some chances but we managed to lose the game.
Antoine Semenyo
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Antoine Semenyo featured for Bournemouth against Chelsea in midweek(Image: PA)
"Our home display, at the beginning, it was very dominant and that ended up in a really poor way for us. So, a lot to learn, huge respect for them. I know Andoni really well and what he’s doing, I think it's incredible.
"I'm watching all the games that they played this season and against the top sides, how difficult they made it and how they haven’t got results against them as well is difficult to understand."
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Bournemouth are yet to play Arsenal this season even though we are now halfway through the Premier League season.
Arsenal are now four points clear at the top of the table while Bournemouth are floundering in 15th place.
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