Morning all.
It’s hard to believe that back in February 2008, Bournemouth were forced into administration, suffering a ten-point deduction. The club almost went out business and were relegated to Division Two. Eddie Howe stepped into management with the club and despite a lot of problems off the pitch, took the club into Division One but then left. But it was his return in 2012/13 which took Bournemouth in the Championship and then the Premier League. Remarkable really. Relegation cost Howe his job eight years later but after appointing Scott Parker a few years later, in 2022, they returned to the Premier League and there they have stayed.
The south coast club did the double over us last season, how, no pun intended, I don’t know. Playing the away game with ten players for about an hour didn’t help that’s for sure.
Mikel Arteta held his pre match press conference yesterday where he was asked:
Any fresh injury concerns after Tuesday?
No, we haven’t trained yet, so today’s going to be the first training session with the players who started against Villa. We will know more this afternoon.
If the swelling on Rice’s knee has reduced?
Not yet, and we have another session today, so let’s see how he comes in today and how that’s feeling, but [he Villa] game was too early for him.
Calafiori and Mosquera?
They are both out.
A back four similar to the one which faced Villa then, unless two games in a row is too much for the recently returned Gabriel. I can’t see Declan Rice being risked either which if is the case, a rare start for Christian Norgaard could be on the cards. I hope one of Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Mosquera get a start too or Ethan Nwaneri. It makes sense to me but then I’m not a football manager. A good job eh as I’d be unemployed…. lol
Seriously though, I really hope we get to see Mikel Arteta use more of his squad players through this half of the season. Not all at once of course, that would be bonkers but one/two changes each game and when it’s possible, earlier substitutions as well as using all five.
Arsenal’s Adrian Clarke:
Bournemouth might not be in great form, but they are never easy to play against. Under Iraola they are always one of the most ferocious pressing outfits, who place a strong emphasis on being aggressive and intense in their duels. Statistically, they press more often than any other top-flight side, but the absence of tigerish ball-winner Adams may weaken them a little in this department.
Iraola’s teams are usually low on possession, but when they spring attacks, they do so at real speed. So, when we commit players forward and lose the ball, the Cherries are sure to explode forward in numbers on the break. Our upcoming opponents have scored a division-high seven times from fast breaks this season. Semenyo, right winger David Brooks and attacking midfielders Marcus Tavernier and Justin Kluivert are all talented individuals who can create chances.
They line up in a 4-2-3-1, with Adrien Truffert [above] advancing high as an attacking left-back. The summer signing has produced 86 open play crosses so far, the joint most of anyone in the Premier League. As we saw last time out at Chelsea, the Cherries also present a major threat from long throws. Semenyo hurls the ball into the box at pace, and they are excellent at getting on the end of near-post flick-ons.
Defending has been an issue for them in 2025/26. On home turf, they have only leaked six goals, but away from the south coast, Bournemouth have conceded 29 times already. Set pieces have been especially problematic, letting in 12 goals this term from dead-ball situations.
Bournemouth are without Christie, Adams, Milosavljevic, Gannon-Doak tonight and Araujo who has moved to Celtic on loan. Cook is facing a late fitness test after missing the game against Chelsea at the weekend.
The south coast club haven’t won a league game since October so they will be looking to start the New Year off with a win. Semenyo will either be eager to say goodbye to the home fans in style or reluctant to do anything which might jeopardise his reported big move to City. Either way, he’ll be a handful.
Arsenal need to be more than a handful for Bournemouth this evening. A fast start, an early goal from Viktor Gyokeres and then go for the jugular. None of this sitting back malarky because all that does is invite pressure. Don’t give Bournemouth an inch, nor the officials for that matter.
Catch up in the comments.
Afternoon Rico and all, should be a good match but I am expecting us to win by a couple of goals.
So, Arteta not sure about injuries as we have not trained today, maybe we should give training today a miss.
Afternoon Gunners,
Yeah,anyone carrying knocks could maybe be saved for the Liverpool game. I’m sure we will still put out a very strong team.
Bournemouth can’t be taken lightly,if Semenyo scores Man City will probably pay him a nice bonus. My Chelsea correspondent tells me Bournemouth created loads of chances and had the better of their recent game.
I’m feeling confident,not always good where Arsenal are concerned.
COYG
Afternoon Geoff, Limey and all.
Tight game I reckon…
There are no easy games in The Premiership, every point has to be fought for.
Should we manage to score the first goal, the last thing I want to see is the team dropping back to defend the lead. We have to put Bournemouth under pressure but we must not go gung ho. Raya, in particular, must be more accurate with his passes out from defence, earlier in the season his long throws out to Martinelli were very effective, unfortunately Trossard doesn’t quite have pace for that tactic so he needs to find one of our midfielders or go to the right wing were either Saka or Madueke can make progress.
The snow has stopped, for now, but it’s bitterly cold out.
Agree re all of that Cicero..
Good afternoon Rico and all
Rice has travelled with the squad today. Whether or not he is on the list in any capacity remains to be seen.Personally I wouldn’t risk him. We have more than enough quality to dominate midfield. Zubimendi, Odegaard, Merino, Norgaard, Eze. That is quality even without Declan.
This evening I would go with Norgaard, Eze and Madueke plus Jesus in the starting 11. Yes I would bench Odegaard, Saka and Gyokeres. Then introduce them between halftime and 60th minute. Rotation, resting some players, giving minutes to those who need it.
My team would be…Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabi, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Norgaard, Eze; Madueke, Jesus, Trossard
On a different level, I found this on FB. I never knew it and it feels so kind.
‘Amidst the dazzling lights of the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal did something not every club would dare to do. The club’s chairman announced he would hire homeless people to clean the pitch after each match, paying them $20 an hour, along with decent meals and drinks. It wasn’t just a job; it was a helping hand pulling them back to life.’
There are some reports regarding Guehi (I take it with a pinch of salt….According to reports Arsenal are interested in Marc Guehi ,and his addition to the team would free Lewis Skelly to go back to his preferred midfield position which he thrives the most .
There are reports that Chelsea want to sign Nwaneri, though their most immediate need is for a new head coach.
You’ve gotta love the transfer window, have we been linked with Draxler and Lookman yet? 😴
Thanks for the post Rico, should be a good game later on, let’s hope we put Semenyo out of action until February 1st.
Afternoon Devil.
Re Rice, if he really was injured, don’t risk him but if he was just having a breather, different story.
That would be ideal Kev, or better still, he does it to himself. 😜 Otherwise, I hope he lives to regret his move to Manchester. Lol
I too have a hunch about Guehi, based purely on him not celebrating his goal against us.
I hope Arsenal tell them to get stuffed Cicero.
Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Madueke, Martinelli, Gyokeres.
Subs: Kepa, White, Saka, Jesus, Eze, Norgaard, Trossard. Merino, Lewis-Skelly.
No Nwaneri again…
He must be going on loan.
Nwaneri not in the squad? Ominous! Maybe something in the Chelsea rumour. 😕
Like it! Whether winning, drawing or losing, having Saka, Jesus and Trossard to come on against tired legs sounds nice. Hopefully Madueke, Gyokeres and Martinelli can all run directly at them and give us the lead before such replacements. Sounds easy in writing doesn’t it?
I’d be really surprised to see him leave permanently at this stage of his career. A Bournemouth loan seems to make more sense to me.
Sure does Andrew, easy peasy
No Nwaneri but hard to take out any of those in front of him. Need Norgaard should Rice break down. Need left and right defenders. Maybe Merino a rest but remember Newcastle? I think he’s just next in line after the subs named. And we are not used to having just 3 injured. Plus there’s Havertz to come in after extra training.
With Semenyo leaving that makes sense Rico.
Plus he’s still just 18 years old.
I think so too Andrew. He’ll get game time and come back all the better for it.
Blimey! Never expected that from Gabriel
Quick redemption thankfully! So important we got back quickly as that was the most stupid giveaway!
They are getting through us far too easily.
1 each at half time , Gabi cock up for theirs then scores . Kavanagh showing why 60 plus percent of his matches are home wins
Need to step it up a bit in the second half. We are not dominating the midfield.
That’s better, a couple of accurate passes and Declan Rice with a superb shot from outside the box. 1 – 2.
Declan on a hat trick now 1 – 3
2 – 3 now.
We’re bulking up the midfield Merino on for Odegaard.
Three points lead extended. 🔔🔔🔔
That was a tad nerve racking..
Why does it always have to be nerve racking nearly every game? At 3-1 I was shouting at tv as they back off and you can sense what’s going to happen. Good strike though.
What a player Rice is. All over the pitch and MOTM even without the two goals. Zubi looking a bit tired, I would have replaced with Norgaard after 60.
How did that player pulling back with both hands escape a booking? By distracting the situation down injured? Then Merino booked for hitting ball back against boards! Only favour Kavanagh did was blow up before ball was crossed back in.
3 great points though after last years results v Bournemouth.
The holding onto Jesus’ leg was crazy. Can’t believe Kavanagh didn’t deem that a foul. Dreadful..
Evening All.
The highlight of the game for me was when
the Bournmouth player went down on his knees
and head butted Gabbys right elbow from behined.
He then rolled over and claimed Gabby had elbowed
in the face
Another 3 points “hard-won”. Onwards…
I don’t like the idea of taking the ball to the corner flag in an attempt to run down the clock, I’d rather see the ball played back to our midfielders or defenders and recycled from there. Compliments to the Bournemouth players they are fully street wise when it comes to feigning injury, diving, shirt pulling and other forms of skullduggery.
Despite their best efforts aided and abetted by an incompetent nincompoop of a referee we came away with three points and an improved goal difference.
Good night Gooners,everywhere.i
Kavanagh really is a terrible referee, he ignored countless fouls and then gave Zubimendi a yellow card for absolutely bugger all, the man’s a complete tool.
I’m not too worried about Ethan Nwaneri, we have so many games to play this month that I’m pretty sure we’ll see him in some of them. I don’t want any of our players leaving and as far as Chelsea being interested in Ethan, £60m and we might consider it otherwise jog on…
Morning all.
New post up.
Hi Rick, shame he didn’t hurt himself..