Morning all.
Every player needs to be at their best for the next two months. They have to give everything for the badge, the club, the staff and especially the fans. The fans who have been through the ups, the downs and now hopefully, the ups again.
I don’t think we’ll get a better opportunity to win the Premier League and we cannot afford to blow it.
Mikel Arteta:
The closer we get, the relevance and importance of the match increases obviously, and tomorrow is a big day for us. The players know it, our supporters know it, it’s an early kick-off, so get up early, have an early breakfast, bring your lunch, bring your dinner, and let’s all go together for it because it has to be a big day.
Our pride is reinforced because that talks about your culture and the identity of this club and the team, and to define that, you have to go through different scenarios, different moments, individually and collectively. I always said that that’s one of the proudest things that I have, not only with the people but our supporters as well, they’ve always been with the team regardless of the situation and that’s great to see in football.
Ebe Eze is back available which is not only a surprise but great news and Arteta hinted at one/some of Jurrien Timber, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori could return and Piero Hincapie is back in training too.
So, we face an in-form Bournemouth, at lunchtime and with Michael Oliver appointed as the referee. Darren England is on VAR. Stitch up in the making? We’ll see but I hope not. Honesty and consistency is all I ask for.
The south coast club have enjoyed a three week break, time for Kroupi, Jimenez, Gannon-Doak and Adams to recover from injury and Soler could return too although Kluivert and Cook remain out.
Just over three months ago, Bournemouth and Arsenal went head to head at The Vitality Stadium. A misplaced pass from Gabriel gifted Evanilson a goal but just a few minutes later, our Brazilian made amends by scoring an equaliser. The second half brought two goals for Declan Rice and despite Kroupi scoring with fifteen minutes to go, we held on.
Adrian Clarke, writing in the official matchday programme:
Iraola always lines up in a 4-2-3-1, and the astute Spaniard’s teams are renowned for producing fast, high-intensity football, with and without the ball. He wants his players to work exceptionally hard (no team in the division makes more sprints), and as a collective they press with great enthusiasm all over the pitch. The Cherries have a vertical style of play which sees them transition quickly from defence to attack. This could be a move started by the progressive passing of central defender Marcos Senesi, a swiftly constructed passing sequence through the thirds, a long pass into the channels, or a rapid counter-attack. They get the ball forward quicker than almost any other team in the Premier League.
Iraola’s men are brilliant ball winners and regain possession with greater frequency than all the other 19 top-flight sides. Character and a never-say-die spirit are also qualities you associate with the Cherries, who have fallen behind on 13 occasions, but lost just five times when that happened. Bournemouth can be guilty of giving up a lot of chances. Only the three teams currently occupying the bottom three places have faced a higher number of shots on target than the Cherries, so keeper Djordje Petrovic has been busier than his head coach would have liked.
Our last two domestic cup matches were disappointing but they are done. Finished with for another season. Today it’s about the Premier League and adding three points to our tally.
Today presents a chance to put a bit of pressure on Man City who face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.
We’re at home, playing front of our own fans who deserve to see a fully committed performance, a performance which reflects the team/squads desire and determination to keep fighting to win the title. With just seven league fixtures left to play, the players need to give their all because nothing less will do. As Tony Adams once said, “play for the name on the front of the shirt, and they will remember the name on the back”.
For every game, we have to be there. We know the meaning of every match here and the opportunity that we have, especially when we play at home. We need to maximise every result. It’s about each individual and how they turn up there. It’s actually impacting the game, the atmosphere and energy in the stadium. Whoever comes tomorrow, I ask them to [come] with that mindset, energy and commitment, because the team is going to respond beautifully to that. Mikel Arteta.
Catch up in the comments.
When we lose, any manager seems better than who we have, it’s natural for certain fans I guess but a season is about 38 games and not just one. Yes, Bournemouth played better than us but would they have been as fit and healthy had they’d played the number of fixtures we have or having so many injuries to key players.
I really don’t like some of the football we play, I don’t like Arteta antics on the sideline either but with six games to go, I’m not for slagging off Arteta publicly.
There’s a new post up now.
A great post by Mike McDonald on Gunnerstown in case anyone is interested.
Well that’s weird
Looks as if someone needs to put a shilling in the meter.
Good morning all.
B B D, I have a feeling that you don’t have the highest respect for Mikel Arteta as Arsenal Manager.
Expressions such as mercenary, anti-football, only your opinion of course but what evidence is there for calling him a mercenary? Where do you get the idea that he has an unending contract? What manager wouldn’t demand that the board continue to his attempts to improve the squad?
Your assertion that there is not enough money in the world to achieve his aim is just silly.
I have to ask you, would you prefer Arsenal to lose both the Premiership and the Champions League in order that you can demand Arteta’s head?
Do you, in fact, support our club or are you just trying to wind us all up?
Another thing I’ve seen is if City beat Chelsea today it’s all over. I’m not sure about that but I expect nothing from Chelsea,especially as they are without 2 of their best players,Fernandez and Reece James.
The way we are playing you can’t be confident about next weekend.
If things go against us we could both be on 70 points by kick off against Newcastle in 2 weeks,then it comes down to goal difference/goals scored.
General concensus online is that its over and all City has to do is win it’s last 8 games . However all we can do is either win our last 6 or even a draw At the Etihad and it’s in our hands . Am I confident ? No
Well that’s telling me Denise, how on earth could anyone hope to compete with the giants of Real Betis…
BBD, firstly, thanks for your commiserations re: my grandfather.
Secondly, mate, I cannot see how Mikel can be described as a “loser”. In his first 300 games as manager of Arsenal he has a 61% win ratio (exceeding Arsene’s record over his first 300 games) and Arsenals points per game have grown consistently from 1.61 in 20/21 to over 2.3+ in recent seasons.
He has taken the club to 8th, 8th, 6th, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd and now leading in his 7th season.
His Champions League record is 14 wins from 17 matches (82.3% win rate).
He has guided Arsenal to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals (2023/24) and subsequently reached the semi-finals in the 2024/25 season. As of early 2026, he holds the best win percentage (over 75%) of any manager with an English club in competition history, with his 2025/26 campaign boasting a record of 11 wins and a draw from the 12 games so far and having us on the cusp of another semi final.
He played for Arsenal, lifting two FA Cups as our captain and once (so far) as manager (the only person to achieve this feat at the same club.
I recall reading something, I think Kev (may have been LG) posted a while back on BK acknowledging Mikel as a good manager but questioning whether he is a lucky manager. He has certainly had a share of misfortune. What he is, is a first time manager competing in the worlds toughest league up against clubs which are financed by Oil States.
He has done extremely well. He is a fine family man, a fine club man and, undoubtedly, a winner.
In my books, anyway.
Andoni Iraola is not my ‘flavour of the month’, Kevin, I merely think pound for pound he has proved he is far superior. Iraola has been linked with a move back to Spain, Betis I think. Though you do defend our mercenary manager with no heart-felt connection to Arsenal, with tremendous relish, which is your perogative, so what, Kevin, he gets a never-ending contract until he proves he’s a winner, even if that only amounts to a single PL title? Is that where the levels of ambition are for the club among the majority of the fan-base? Please let’s play ugly unattractive football until the annointed one can prove to the world he’s not a loser. Only an Arsenal fan would develop and entertain that level of thinkling.
It might be fantasy/wild exaggerated media mumbo jumbo, Luis Enrique being heavily linked with United.
If true anti-football Mik will fall even further back in the queue for trophies, and Arsenal will be back where they were during Wenger’s late Emirates years.
Isn’t it wonderful supporting a club who are perfectly content to go decades without ever seriously contesting football’s most prestigous prizes.
Apparently, one of Arteta’s ‘demands’ whilst thinking about signing a new ridiculously over-rewarded contract, is that the Board continue to support him financially in building the squad.
Poor Mik. There just isn’t enough money in the world for him to prove whatever point he is trying to make.
But Everton and maybe a few Rangers fans will always have a soft spot for him, and as long as he never manages either club those feelings will remain strong.
Andoni Iraola, the latest flavour of the month, lets see how he does next season if Bournemouth qualify for Europe and he stays there?
We might stand a chance if all our injured are back for next weekend.
Data analysts Opta still give Arsenal a 93.62% chance of winning the title, based on thousands of simulations of each team’s remaining fixtures.
Don’t abandon hope, ya’all. Frustration, angst, sleepless nights, are all part of being a dedicated follower of The Arsenal. The players and coaches will be feeling it all far more acutely than we are. Flush, lower the seat to close off any lingering odour, take a walk among some trees and lift our boys in prayer. They need our encouragement to finish the job v Sporting in midweek and see off the monster that is city next weekend. Yes, they can.
We sure have lost the plot. We looked like a pub team for much of the game.
Hey to you Bb, I certainly know which team were more entertaining. We were shocking. I really hope the board hang fire on any new contract for Arteta.
We played more passes in our area than theirs , we seem to have lost the plot
Hey Rico, do you think we should swap Arteta for Andoni Iraola, who has now schooled him in three of our last four meetings?
I’d even be up for bringing Cesc in from Como, I’m desperate to see the end of Arteta.
It’s me, but in the New Forest. 😂
Thanks Cicero lol
If that is you Cicero, I sincerely apologise.
Careful B B D, someone on H H lives their, and is no retiree. 😉
Test
Just said something similar to a friend of mine about Arteta. Tried to post a long message but “forbidden” came back..
This is little Bournemouth, a lovely seaside resort for retirees.
They did the league double over us last year. But wait, they lost their goalkeeper and three of their back four to Liverpool, Real Madrid and PSG, easy right?
How much more do we have to suffer before someone significant realises that Arteta isn’t and never has been the difference maker.
I am seething at the constant over-hyping and under-whelming crap that has come to define Arsenal under this horrible fraud of a manager.
Don’t bother Cicero, we were second best, third best including the referee..
Having now read the above comments, maybe I won’t bother.😕
Just got home after a day out with my young grandson.
Haven’t seen the game, the only thing I no about it is the very disappointing result.
I’ve got it recorded so will watch it later.
We desperately need Chelsea to do us a favour. They are chasing 5th so hopefully that inspires them.
Yes we will win enough come 2nd
Still six games to go yet Devil..
City didn’t play in the week though, we did.
When we lose the EPL title it will be classified as the biggest meltdown and bottle job in history
Potter, City have played the same amount as us…it doesn’t seem to show.
Watch them batter the chavs in style
Indeed it did but at times, we couldn’t even get the basics right.
we have played 53 games so far Bournemouth have played 34 and it showed
Shocking performance. Really disappointing, wait for the bottlers jibes to resurface…
No breathing space for us now, which means we cannot afford to lose at Wastelands next weekend and just as our form is collapsing and theirs is revitalised. I’d like to think that Chelsea will do us a favour but City will destroy them, they smell blood….
6 games left but its still bye bye PL title.
It seems that the team have lost all confidence. Playing like a shadow of themselves
I think there are issues within the team players and management.
And its not injuries which are to blame.
Good afternoon Rico and all
And there we go….conceded another one.
We are playing at walking pace.
I feel we are going to lose this one.
Even more painful now. 2-1 down and need a miracle. We have been really poor…
This is painful to watch,crying out for Eze maybe Dowman.
“Positional” football is killing us …
How can we play such a game with so little passion? We look obsessed with “structure”, while we should have embraced chaos, jumped down their throats from the getgo, like rabid dogs.
We end up with 2 useless players on either wing, and our 2 midfielders constantly outnumbered.
What’s the point about MA being that agitated on the touchline, while it looks as though no fire has been ignited deep inside the boys’ bellies in the dressing-room, I wonder.
I’d love Noni and Marti to be taken off, Ebz and Hincapié brought on, so we’d have:
Gyö
Eze-Havertz
Rice-Zubimendi-LewisSkelly
Hincapié-Gabriel-Saliba-White
Raya
… but I’m not putting my expectations for it too high.
Gyö’s runs have been outstanding, and Myles is having his best game of the season.
That’s something, I guess
COYG
Gyokeres is the one penalty taker I dint get nervous about! Maybe fortunate but then so was Saliba’s deflection falling to them. Bournemouth certainly not sitting back like I expected. What’s worrying is we creating so few chances, need a big 2nd half.
Or White
Afternoon Devil, thanks. MLS probably
We’re all over the place.
Good afternoon Rico and all
I enjoiyed reading the post Rico..Who would you remove to have TA06 in today’s lineup.
And here we go again. 0-1 down with their first shot on goal. Then Haverts misses a sitter. We are at a walking pace.
Bloomin heck!
I do too Stuart, handy for me as I don’t watch that much football these days.
Thanks Andrew, we certainly could. Soon I hope.
Afternoon all, good preview rico. We could also do with Timber, Cali, Ode and Saka now as well😆. But let’s hope understudy’s step up today.
Stay safe, Stu … this is the second such storm beating down on you in no time isn’t it?
Thanks a lot for the preview, Rico …
I like Adrian’s analyses a lot, unfortunately it looks as though his “Breakdown” of our games on YT has come to an end. I have to say I was (unpleasantly) surprised by the tiny number of viewers who seemed to have an interest in his cool-headed videos.
Still five major players out indeed, Limey (Timber, Calafiori (?), Merino, Saka, Ødegaard). It says a lot about our misfortunes these past 2 seasons that we almost take it in stride now …
COYG
We could do with a captain like Tony right now Limey..
Arsenal team news…
Team to face Bournemouth: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Zubimendi, Rice, Havertz, Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
Subs: Arrizabalafa, Mosquera, Hincapie, Jesus, Eze, Norgaard, Trossard, Dowman, Salmon.
I like the rallying call,and the quote from Tony Adams.
What a game,they’re all huge now. And we go out there with several first choice players unavailable.
This team should be good enough anyway,let’s put the pressure on those Mancs.
COYG
Thanks Stuart. One of the best captains in Arsenal’s history imo. Such passion for The Arsenal and backed it up on the pitch.
Stay safe over there..
Thanks Rico. Good stuff, mate, especially the TA quote and the header photo which captures it. What an example of leadership he was, a one club man, overcoming adversity, winning League titles in three decades. I was at Wembley when he scored that back post header from Merse’s cross to defeat Tottenham in the the FA Cup semi final. I still feel the delirium of that moment all these thirty three years later.
We have a Tropical Cyclone upon us at present. Praying for a number of things, one being that the power is not lost before or during the match. COYG.