Three Points A Must For Gunners At Bournemouth
Feb 6th, 2016 by 'holic
This weekend hasn’t got off to the best of starts, one way or another. I spent lunchtime with one eye on Leicester City’s demolition of Manchester City in the Emptihad (thank you whoever named it that on Twitter last week). Mercifully I chose not to watch the nearest and dearest stumble to a single goal triumph against Watford. I guess with the visitors playing Huerelho Gomes at White Hart Lane it was always going to end badly for them. It never was a good venue for him.
Some boneless beef ribs later I now look ahead to tomorrow which hopefully will provide the reaction that Arsene has promised from his players. After today’s matches we trail Leicester by eight points and for the first time this season I will accept that the phrase ‘must win match’ very much applies to our trip to Bournemouth, never mind next Sunday’s visit of the aforementioned Leicester City. Two points behind we can manage, but eleven behind would be unthinkable.
Arsene was talking ahead of the match of the partnership of Mesut Ozil and Alexis that has been renewed following the latter’s return from injury. He also suggested that those around them need to step up to the plate too.
โThey have a very strong link play and a very good understanding and penetration in the final third. What you want is to give them more options around them. Thatโs the target now in our team, to create more offensive options around them.”
The team news is that we didn’t lose anyone from Tuesday’s disappointing draw. Danny Welbeck had an hour for the U-21’s but will not be ready to return for another two to three weeks. He looks set to be the next player to return from injury. What changes the boss will make after Tuesday is anyones guess. Listener’s to this weeks A Bergkamp Wonderland podcast will know I think there must be a chance of a recall for Per Mertesacker and Theo Walcott (the latter on the right flank, not up top).
The hosts have enjoyed their first season in the top flight, although Newcastle’s win today means they are only five points above the relegation zone. I’m sure their supporters would have taken that at the start of the season. From what I have seen there are most certainly three or more sides unlikely to overtake them.
They have, it would appear, acted smartly in the transfer window by snapping up former young Gunner Benik Afobe from Wolves. He has scored in three of his first four matches. What couldn’t we have done with those goals. They are unbeaten in four since West Ham won 1-3 down on the South Coast and of course we ended 2015 by beating them 2-0 at the Grove.
The ‘holic pound
Bournemouth have impressed with their willingness to play an open passing game and have pulled off some impressive wins, for example Chelsea away and Manchester United at Dean Court in successive weeks in December. I am banking on them being as adventurous on Sunday and that we do indeed provide a reaction to four league matches without a win.
It is yet another ‘hail Mary’ I am chucking, hoping to touchdown on a 2-4 Gunners win at an understandably generous 66/1. The bookies are not convinced it will be Arsenal’s day and certainly a month ago they would not been offering us at only evens to win. The majority have 1-1 as the likeliest outcome.
So that is it. The travelling Gooners will be thin in numbers at Bournemouth as our allocation is around 1300 tickets I believe. I’m sure that won’t stop them making themselves heard throughout as always. Have a great day those of you lucky enough to have secured those precious tickets. From behind the sofa I will be with you in spirit.
Have a good one ‘holics.
66 Responses to “Three Points A Must For Gunners At Bournemouth”
Just watched Lottery draw and didnt win, turned to ‘Holic for solace and BANG!
Hope there is enough room behind the sofa ‘holic considering I may be right there with you. Praying for that eruption of goals you have so bravely predicted. And sooner rather than later. Cheers. ๐
The bookies reckon even money for 1-1? Says it all frankly.
Oskar
Do you know what? like many I read all and say little, however, while Arsene would probably admit that he doesn’t get everything right, why do people think that change is the complete answer to any defeat or even disappointing result? The time will come when Arsene steps down and we will welcome a new king, but that change is one that has to be conducted very carefully, do we really want to be stumbling from one manager to another, desperately searching for someone who can keep us at the top of the pile (just look at the Theatre of Nightmares!)
The grass isn’t always greener…….
Watched the foxes/$iteh game and couldn’t help seeing a lot of early AW gunners in the former … energetic, quick, confident, skilled, and exhilarating on the counter. They will take some catching from here. And only the spuds seem to be winning with any regularity in the chase. Sheesh.
Very depressed here.
But a win tomorrow will hopefully breathe life back into our challenge. Especially a big win that boosts the woeful GD. That the spuds are a) above us, and b) with a 10-goal GD is shocking. How did that happen?
Minimum 3-goal advantage tomorrow please.
Oskar
Cheers Holic, nice preview.
So you’re right behind the sofa eh, so is that where you keep the hooch ๐
Not only is a must win, it’s one we should really win with they way Bournemouth play the game. Of course, if we step on the pitch without the right mind set, any team in the premiership can inflict damage.
3-1 to the good guys is my guess.
Agreed this is a must win. Lose, or even draw, and we are left with a mighty mountain to climb if we are to be at the pinnacle at the end of the season.
If we are to win it, I think we’ll win it at a canter, 4-1 (40s available). Otherwise it will be another disappointing two points dropped.
Right, Match Of The Day starting, time to watch and ??????
Tomorrow’s another day, hopefully upwards
Ref, you should comment more often.
Oskar, if 1-1 were evens we would be in the deep voodoo. That is the win odds.
Ah, gotcha. But even evens for a win is still depressing though.
Oskar
Please God, if we don’t win it, let it be Leicester. It will be brilliant for football.
So long as it isn’t the neighbours. That would be most stomach-churningly unthinkable event since “the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him .
Or worse.
Oskar
Oops, forgot to close the quote.
Thanks for that, once again, H, for all the commitment, dedication and patience…..!!!
I believe we’re at our worst when we’re favourites to win. We become complacent and overconfident. We’re best when our backs are against the wall which is why I think we’ll win tomorrow. And I think we’ll beat Leicester too.
If Welbz can be integrated into the team soon – I think he could have a major impact on our season.
Watching MOTD – can you believe ‘Pool gave Min-u-lay a 5 year contract..!!%%%%$$$$!!!!
Oskar, help me out here!
Evening Joe. Lovely to see you here.
I sense the nervousness and apprehension in your preview H. We’re in a poor run of form which I think was triggered by that concession of a late equaliser at Liverpool. A win there and we might have rebounded on to do better in our next three matches. But we are where we are . A good win tomorrow with Alexis and Ozil firing and we might kickstart our challenge again. But it’s a really vital game. I trust Arsene to get it right. We should be winning at Bournemouth. I think we will but it will be tight
Evening ‘Holics
What we need against Bournemouth is the once- every-ten -games Theo.
The good one. The one that scores goals.
Like Oskar (!) , I would like Theo replaced by Reus, but until then, ffs play as we all know you can(but rarely do) Theo!
And lets just win the fucking game.
How about a five nil win gunners ? i will gladly take that. Giroud up top, Theo cant score on the right where he should be, forget about being a striker Theo, Sanchez on the left and Ozil roaming plenty of goals there i hope. I would also like to seen Coquelin and Elneny against Barcelona. Last comment just a side bar
Not quite, IF. I want Reus, as I’ve been advocating for several seasons, but not as a replacement for Theo. They’re different types of player. Reus would complement Alexis and Mesut giving us three world class players able to attack from all directions.
Theo I just want to start scoring again, probably as a super-sub when everyone’s fit or a starter when the physio room jinx strikes.
Happy to help, ‘holic, but no idea how? Did my failure to close italics cause a problem? My apologies if so. ๐
Oskar
Blimey. If we signed Reus just think how much ticket prices would have to go up????
Another must win. Another one difficult to call until we know which Arsenal team will turn up on the day? It seems strange sat hearing reading that people are nervous about a trip to Bournemouth and positively squeamish about the arrival of Leicester next week. Who would have thought that back in August?
If we perform at a level that we know we can it should be an Arsenal victory. That said, I think you are a brave man H if you think we will score 4.
Nice preview H. Let’s hope we all have something to cheer about later on today.
Nice one, Holic.
If Bournemouth look safe from relegation, is it too early in the run in for their players to be on the beach. ?
Here’s hoping for a 3-1.
We simply have to impose our 18 years of Champions League experience and the quality of Cech, Ozil, Sanchez and the like on them and not let them into the game. I very much admire what Bournemouth have achieved but I don’t want to see any of it tomorrow.
Just discovered bottles of Butcombe on sale in my local supermarket. What a wonderful end to the day.
Trolltastic. Always nice to get a reminder of how lucky you really are.
My name is Steve T and i am a goonerholic
Oskar
Until we are allowed to play 12 men I cant see a place for Walcott if the holy grail of Reus Alexis and Ozil are sitting behind The World Class Striker.
Purely academic of course.
A mere fantasy.
Stuck with Theo — still hope he delivers in this one.
Its about time.
I’m feeling a 3-1 victory.
Oh no – I’ve just seen the ref is Kevin Friend
Better make that 1-0 with four of ours booked and two clear penalties denied.
UTA.
Cheers H!
We really need to step it up today. Crucial.
*valiantly ignores invitation to rumble*
Theo Walcott 53 league goals in 10 season. What a prospect. He’ll come out good
How I wish my African brother Adebayor had that luxury
Emmanuel Adebayor 46 league goals in 2 seasons and was pushed out by the fans for not being so good.
Naija. Sadly you could not be more wrong. After one good season Ade thought he was something he wasn’t. He coveted a big money move or a bigger contract. When citeh came calling offering pots of gold he was off. After his break through season his motivation was purely money. A real shame as along with RVP he could have become an Arsenal legend. Adebayor chose otherwise.
Adebayor had one good season and started openly flirting with AC Milan and talking about moving on to further his career. When the move didn’t happen he signed a new deal with Arsenal.
The fans were – for obvious reasons – not all that happy with him, but he massively compounded the problem by scoring on his return to the team in an Emirates Cup match and kissing the badge. I was in the stadium that day and the mood turned massively at that point – the boos rained down, and quite rightly so.
Adebayor can cock off, and the idea that he was some sort of innocent who was driven out is self-loathing nonsense. I’m massively against booing virtually anyone who wears the shirt, but he was a notable exception: it was obvious from Summer 2008 what he was all about, and his career has been on the downward trend ever since. We got great money for him and can only look back on his sale as one of the smartest deals we ever did, particularly given that it took City about half a decade to finally shift his massive wages and obvious mental issues off their books.
Gooner Ref – While I respect your opinion I’m afraid that this sort of attitude is an example of why we continually fall short and bottle it.
Scare mongering is Arsene’s favourite tactic to justify his underperformance in the last five to six years. When it comes to transfers he doesn’t want to ‘bankrupt’ the club (no-one is asking him to, just to fully use the budget he has). I read during the week that now we should all be afraid of the Chinese leagues new found wealth.
The sad truth is that Arsene (as much as I admire him) is well past his sell by date and modern day football and methodology has passed him by.
Leicester and Spurs have significantly lower wage budgets than us (I believe even half) and look at their performances against ours. All of the talk on recent years of ‘financial doping’ is only a half truth. The key is getting your tactics right, motivating the players and maximising the budget yuu half, Arsene is lacking in all three and won’t change, that’s the reason why we won’t the league thin year (despite it being somewhat of an open goal) or another year while Arsene remains in charge.
When AW does go, I don’t think we will necessarily go the way of United, and things might be rocky initially, at least it would be exciting and going the going through the motions of a fourth place finish and a guaranteed first round exit of the Champions League which we have now.
Glocken
Remarkably this will be only our third game against Bournemouth. We played them in the League Cup in 1987 and the league in December, winning 3-0 and 2-0, respectively. So a 1-0 would be next in succession.
I’m hoping that this is the right point of the season, the right game, where we kick on and find some attacking form and lay down our marker for the final dozen or so games. If you’d have told me at the beginning of the season that I could double my money at the bookies just on a win for us against Bournemouth, I wouldn’t have believed you, so I hope my ‘investment’ for this game hasn’t been ill-placed? 3-1 sounds good to me, but a draw or even shambolic defeat isn’t beyond the realms of possibility sadly!
As for the team: keep Gabriel at CB next to Kos – Per lost his place v Chelsea, so Gabriel should now get a run until injury or loss of form permits a change, and away at Bournemouth there could be an early high-tempo barrage from their attackers that might expose Per a tad anyway. As for the right-wing slot, I’d probably go for Theo in this game. Ask him to play close to OG and to be really involved and look to pose a threat. Leftfield option is to play Rambo out right and bring Elneny in alongside the Coq?…
Cheers H.
Although the result of our last game was not the desired outcome, the effort in the second half gave me a little bit of hope (you remember that, it’s the stuff that apparently kills ya), that we can turn this around. We need to take our chances today, and as many as possible as our GD has taken a massive hit over the last few weeks.
COYG.
The only important team news today that matters
Is flamini or Ramsey playing
Hope they both missed the bus
how did so many of our players lose their form at the same time. some of them look like they just cant handle the pressure.
Cech, Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal, Flamini, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Sanchez, Giroud.
Subs: Gibbs, Mertesacker, Ospina, Walcott, Campbell, Coquelin, Iwobi.
Puzzled why if Le Coq is fit enough for the bench he isn’t fit enough to start.
Maybe just being cautious with him, Ned,easing him back into it.
I have no problem with that, a lot of football to be played over the next few weeks.
Can’t understand Arsene’s fixation with playing Flamini over Coq. Ozil must be putting in a good word for his friend!
KSN
Ditto
Why the obsession with Flamini? He really isn’t worth a place in a side with title aspirations. Elneny not even on the bench. Happy enough with Ox although he is yet to notch away from home ( other than Wembley!)
The significance may be that Gabriel is keeping the BFG out. I believe that is right and Gabriel was excellent against them before Christmas.
Feeling reasonably chipper today. I’ve supped from the magic Thierry Henry mug so all is well.
COYG!
Interesting that Silent Stan is alienating fans on both sides of the Atlantic.
I wonder if he remembers we are playing today?
http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/super-bowl-commercials-st-louis-lawyer-slams-arsenal-owner-stan-kroenke-over-plans-to-relocate-rams-a3174801.html
St. Louis lawyer slams Stan: “Just because it’s legal and you are rich enough to do it, that doesn’t make it right.”
Fine preview Guvna.
I want to see desire, determination and if necessary spilled blood from our heroes today.
Prove to us that you really, really want to win this league as much as your long suffering supporters do.
GO WIN, ARSENAL.
This is your time. Seize the day.
TTG: Elneny is on paternity leave. Mrs E has just given birth.
It is cold today.
I blame Stan.
Trev @ 21, ‘and the like’?
We haven’t got them yet, mate!
It is on. All that matters is the 3 points. COYG.
3 points please Arsenal that all that matters
Get in Ozil
At last.
This game has been fucking boring up to this point.
Ozil!!!!
Finally a goal for Arsenal. Ox!!!
And again for the OX
GTFIAOC!!!!!!!
PC33 saved!!!!
You wait 5 hours for a goal and then two come along in as many minutes.
More strikes to improve our GD please.
COYG
All a bit scrappy but 2 decent goals. All I care about is the 3 points but could do with boasting our goal difference in the second half and no more 2 footed studs up tackles from the Flamster please.
COYRs
We don’t look too creative in attack or assured in defence. Hope we improve in the second half to score a few more.
Agreed with H2H and Delia. We have done far from enough and now is the time to put the pedal to the mettle. And the metal too. COYG.
While it may not ultimately appear in Petr Cech’s account of number of points worth in a season, that was a heck of a save on that long range screamer. That shot could have changed the entire atmosphere had it found the net.
Almost the whole of the second half has been played in our half. Need to attack a bit more. A goal from them will make for a very nervous last 30 minutes. Come on.
Job done painful to watch but three points on the bag!
Cech saved us points again but it was better from the whole team and much better finishing. Right track.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Happy, happy, happy! A must win game and we delivered! More of that please…
Hope the goal will boost ox’s confidence.
Two minor notes from the game is we should’ve and could’ve sealed it with more goals but after the second goals we lowered our gear, you may say we need to control the game and I understand it but it’s only 30 mins of half time, need to get on to higher gear not lower.
Second one, I’m a bit disappointed when wenger put coq to replaced ox, and Gibbo replaced Alexis, you can see that we never really has the intention to attack and thanks God Bournemouth didn’t score.
Be more ruthless and seal the game by having goals advantage not just defend and defend and please win all rest of the games!