Unai Emery wants four things.

Morning all.

Credit where it’s due I guess although it’s hard for me to write. Totts did well to beat Chelsea yesterday evening to end their unbeaten start to the season. In one way it’s good for us as just Man City threaten our unbeaten season now but even so, a draw would have suited us better.

So be it eh, and to be honest, we’ve got bigger things to concern ourselves with than what goes on elsewhere. Well, Unai Emery has. A run of draws, during which we’ve not really played that well is a concern. The first half performances have been average at best although I’m not naive enough to ignore that there’s been some good individual performances during our slow starts.

The guys have have a break, Emery has had two weeks to work out how to approach this game but in theory, he can do all the work he likes on the training ground but it’s the players who need to execute his plan. I don’t care about a ‘slow start,’ certainly on days like today against a good Bournemouth team, but that slow start has got to be disciplined, organised and confident. Not open, disorganised and vulnerable to the counter attack. Harsh maybe as were on a undefeated run but we’re not going to return to the Champions League by way of the league if we don’t get back to winning ways otherwise the pack of four above us will soon be out of reach.

This is a big game for Arsenal before we enter a really tough month ahead. Xhaka and Torreira need to control our midfield and look out for the defence too. I hope Guendouzi starts too because he gives us energy and speed whilst not neglecting any defensive duties. Personally, I hope not to see Mkhitaryan and Ozil on the pitch at the same time, in fact for a game like this one, neither are ideal at all because it’s going to be a roll up your sleeves for ninety five minutes day.

The two managers:

Eddie Howe:

 “Arsenal have outstanding attacking players and a good look about their team, it will be a tough match.

“If one to 11 we are very good, then we can do well. It will be an interesting game to see which attack comes out on top and it will be a great battle for our defenders as well.”

Unai Emery:

“I know Bournemouth and they are a very prepared team with tactically good movement on the pitch and with a big intensity.

“We need to prepare well, we need every player with a big mentality to fight strongly there against them with our quality but, above all, with a big intensity and a big mentality in the 90 minutes.

There you go, fight strongly, big intensity and big mentality and that’s exactly what will see us come away from the south coast with maximum points. Anything less and Bournemouth will make us pay I’m sure.

Let’s hope it’s a great game and a very good day for The Arsenal.