An Unexpected Top Six Away Awaits Gunners
Nov 23rd, 2018 by 'holic
“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.”
I still smile at Unai Emery’s brave determination to respond in his press conferences in English. I don’t mean that in a derogatory way. Let me assure you his English is far better than my grasp of the Spanish language in any other form than that of a tapas menu. It is one of his many endearing qualities.
Realistically he doesn’t bask in our 16 match unbeaten run, preparing realistically to observe our recent run of draws is not enough and we need three points from Bournemouth on Sunday. Lest we forget if the Middlesex Nomads come unstuck at home to the bus stop in Fulham on Saturday a win on Sunday will take us back into the top four.
We will have to do it without Nacho Monreal and Danny Welbeck, among others. The good news is that Laurent Koscielny is in line for a comeback appearance for the U23s on Monday. Bernd Leno will start behind a far from certain back four. Hector Bellerin will be a shoe-in for right-back, and it looks likely that Shkodran Mustafi will see off the challenge of Sokratis Papastathopoulos to partner Rob Holding. At left-back it really is a coin toss but possibly Ainsley Maitland-Niles will get the nod over Sead Kolasinac and Granit Xhaka.
The latter is expected to partner Lucas Torreira ahead of that back four but interesting decisions are to be made about the attacking quartet in a match away from home against a team keeping Manchester United out of the top six. Alex Iwobi, Mesut Ozil, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang may get the nod behind Alexandre Lacazette if the latter pair are considered free of minor knocks.
The Cherries have impressed this season as an attacking force. The in-form Callum Wilson has scored in all three of his league appearances against Arsenal and will warrant careful marking this weekend. Our last visit to Bournemouth resulted in our first defeat to the south coast club. Eddie Howe is growing in stature among the top flight coaches and says the things his supporters will want to hear.
“If one to eleven 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.”
The ‘holic pound
This may be a very tight affair with both sides hoping to cover all the channels when the other is in possession. I’m not sure Bournemouth will tire as much as some we have met this season having kept our powder largely dry in the opening half of matches before becoming more adventurous in the second. The old favourite, one-nil to the Arsenal, looks decent value at 12/1 and I have grabbed that while it is available.
The Art of Football Tee Competition
Congratulations to @heavensrev who is the winner of the @Art_of_Football teeshirt. It’s a great prize. Thanks to all who entered. Don’t forget to buy in their Black Friday promotion this weekend using the code BF20 for a 20% discount.
With that it is time for my nightcap. To those lucky souls with the rocking horse droppings or unicorn poo that are Bournemouth away tickets I wish you a cracking day out. For the first time ever I could have got one, thank you (you know who you are), but with two home games following the next two weekends and Christmas imminent I reluctantly had to deny myself a rare treat I hope I can get next season.
Have a great one, ‘holics.
89 Responses to “An Unexpected Top Six Away Awaits Gunners”
Albondigas, croquetas, higado, tortilla, pulpo, calamares, champiñones rebozados y patatas bravas, por favor.
Exactly our usual order I believe, Tone. ?
For me, Emery conveys his meaning in English at least as well if not better than Wenger. I do speak Spanish but think my understanding of his English is not colored by that. Not that I don’t smile at some of his more colorful expressions.
Thought you were typing out the Brazil 1970 World Cup winning team at first, WST.
@1. Pattayas bravas. A Thai innovation on a Castillian favorite?
One of your most mouth-watering previews Guvna. LB is a very worrying and difficult decision. With Ryan Fraser on fire, I think AMN might be the best option.
BTW I have to insist on Jamon Ibérica and a bottle of Ribera del Duero, mi amigo.
Young bath, we must do El Molino with BtM one time. My appetite is no longer gargantuan, so bits of tapas with amigos is ideal. The Ribera del Duero is a great idea.
That’s a great idea. I’m certain he will be up for that when he is next down south.
Very good preview this boy Holic knows his stuff although I think he may bring Sokratis back to partner Holding.
I also think we will win by a goal but 2-1 .
AMN has done a great job as an emergency left back in the past and I expect he would instill considerably more confidence in his teammates, and balance to the setup, than Xhaka could hope to do in that position. Time to use the entire in creatively judicious ways.
entire squad, I meant
Thanks for the preview Guvnor.
My guess is Kola will play. The
alternatives – AMN, Xhaka and
Jenks – aren’t left backs. It does
seem a bit like the last chance
saloon for Kola though.
Some might say the same of Kolasinac, OM.
Good preview, ‘Holic. There has never been a 1-0 between the two teams. Only two of the seven fixtures have yielded less than three goals so TTG’s 2-1 may be nearer the mark.
Says something about Holding’s progress this season that you have his name first on the team sheet with Mustafi and Sokratis competing for the other CB spot.
Encouraging to hear, too, that Koscielny will get a run out on Monday. I hope he returns the player he was before his injury, and that it has not caused long-term damage.
They may be right too Ned
🙂
Some interesting EPL stats on Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser, suggesting he is a threat to watch for (especially as he is as quick as Bellerin and gave AMN a torrid time last season). The first number is the number of instances; the second is where that ranks among all Premier League players this season. He is clearly a man in form:
Assists 6 1
Assists from set-pieces 2 1=
Chances created 33 3
Assists from open play 4 3=
Accurate free-kick crosses 4 3=
Chances created from set-pieces 12 4=
Accurate corners 10 7=
Not sure that Kos was the player he once was even before his injury run – he cost us a lot of goals and points. I hope he’s a good squad player but he’ll likely never be first choice again.
I’m with TTG – thinking 2-1 to the good guys.
UTA.
I think AMN is a terrific player/prospect but he is nowhere close to being a left back. One of the things I really didn’t like about Arsene’s latter years was playing people out of their natural positions.
I don’t think the exceptions proved the rule and I hope he isn’t shoehorned in there for this game.
UTA.
Optimistic I know but I hope the 6 month
lay-off might have given Kos’s various other
knocks, niggles, and chronic whatchmacallits
time to recover as well.
Be great to see a late career renaissance for
Kos over the next 6 months.
Regardless I think he will return to France at
the end of the season, and Nacho’s future is
uncertain as well. As for Mus, Kola and Jenks
– well, lots of recruitment work to be done in defence.
Though Holding might just have saved us 40m
quid if he keeps developing.
Nice preview H.
I quite like Bournemouth and Eddie Howe. They can all be proud of what they have achieved.
That said, you would hope that if we work out how to play for both halves of the game that we should be too strong. Underestimate them at our peril though. Let’s hope for a convincing victory.
3 nil to the mighty Gunners
40 bloody goals in 13 games for city
drug addicts!
Martin Atkinson has denied two penalties (one clear cut) in the ongoing Spurs vs Chelsea game and the refs are making sure there will be Champions League matches in the first season at the Spurs new stadium. He is giving everything to Spurs. Not that Chelsea need any sympathy but spurs are getting an unfair advantage and next week it will be our turn to feel the ref’s bias ( Ref-Craig Pawson).
Tomorrow will be a very tough game and we would do well if we don’t concede more than one in the first thirty minutes. Bournemouth start furiously and their forwards are in very good form. In any case, we can’t afford another draw/loss. I think we will win if we keep a clean slate in the first half.
Spurs made mugs of Chelsea who were awful .
I agree with Ksn about the penalties. Atkinson had an awful game. The free kick for the first Totts goal was not a foul either . To win next week Torreira has to eat Eriksen. He makes them play . We might see the Chavs have a bad run. They looked very poor defensively today
Thank you all for the kind words. The victory tomorrow becomes all the more important after the LWCs victory at Wembley. Chelsea were utterly atrocious.
Never mind them, let’s worry about us. Come on you reds, or rather ghastly mint greens…
Dr. Mint and Mr. Green
starring Bela Cushing
and (or) Peter Murphy
come oooooooon…..!
Emil Cioran would say
Make Emery Great Again
(not me)
comeooooonooooozil
I didn’t see the game but it seems
Calum played in midfield for
Fulham. DM I suppose. Anyone
see how he played?
OM
I have a lot of mates who go to Fulham and they have been underwhelmed by Calum. I think he was OK yesterday but the stars were Christie and Mitrovic . He certainly isn’t a Centre half in their view.
Ranieri picked his first team yesterday but if DM is his position he would struggle to hold down a place there with us
5 at the back? No Ozil either, who creates chances in this team?
Oh how I wish this starting line up proves me wrong
Thanks TTG, quite agree with the
conclusion. I think AMN has better
potential in the middle and Guendouzi
as well. But Calum is fairly versatile
if we keep him as a squad player.
Most likely we’ll let him go in the
summer I guess
I guess the 3 CBs is to cover for
Kola getting exposed and to keep
it tight at least 1st half.
Hope it works!
I’m assuming Laca has picked up
a knock. Fingers crossed it’s nothing
serious.
Arsenal: Leno, Bellerin, Mustafi, Sokratis, Holding, Kolasinac, Torreira, Xhaka, Iwobi, Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang
We are short of creative players in the eleven with only Xhaka and Mkhitaryan coming anywhere close to being classified as playmakers. If we stop them from scoring in the first half, Ozil can come on and work some magic. Hope Mkhi and Auba combo clicks.
Laca has a tightness in his groin region and is dropped as a precautionary measure. He should line up against Spurs.
3-1 to The Arse
Aubameyang hat trick
COYGs!!
Coyg
Bmbd
Battle station personneled at the side of the couch. 😉
unlucky Torreira
Iwobi lacking a bit of composure
unfortunately
Unlucky Torriera, however our first half woes continue
Giving the ball away a lot
Might have been a bit lucky on
the offside goal
Looks like we should be one down no offside on their goal either
Hey Sokratis it’s not rugby!
Doing a bit better now though.
Auba with a fair chance and Kola
doing well getting forward on the
left.
How is that a booking for Sokratis?
50/50 I thought ATG 🙂
We’re giving the all away like cookies on a Xmas fair!
We needed that ?
Get in. OG! Doesn’t matter how they come.
So I see we signed Owen Goal to do our scoring.
get in
great finish
Bellerin playing well today
Mkhi struggling a bit 1st half.
But team is working hard I think
and 9 attempts on goal
Not being bullied either.
Silly Iwobi
Of course we cannot win a first half
Fuck that
Bastard
Last fucking kick
1-1. We had committed too many players when we lost the ball and half the players just jogged back, especially Mkhi who strolled back and allowed their players plenty of space.
We still havent taken the lead at the end of first half during this season?
Over passing in the box (will somebody take a shot?) and get burned on a counter.
Easy come easy go I guess
Just dropping by to say, Mustafi is a decent tackler of the ball but time and time again his game management is very poor and costing us dearly. He should’ve stuck to his man and committed to a tackle near the byline prior to conceding the goal. What was he thinking keeping such a big distance with the attacker?
We can win the 2nd half, but gosh that was really poor defending, and sadly this is a story that keeps repeating from Mustafi.
I honestly believe this was not Mustafi’s fault
The Holic pound could have been waged on us failing to be ahead at half-time. We had some good moments in the first half but took the lead from a fluke and then were far too gung-ho close to half-time.
This is still a very frustrating side to watch. We need more aggression in midfield. Mkhitaryan disappoints me with his end product and I woukd bring Ozil on for him. Kolasinac is also very poor defensively. We will do well to get a draw here. Bournemouth are very useful
@ATG perhaps I was quite harsh, but I was screaming in my mind for him to commit to a tackle. Even if it ends with a foul or a throw in we would’ve stopped that momentum and gone to half time unscathed. Yet he did the exact opposite, leaving so much space for Fraser to pick his pass. Surely he could’ve made things more difficult for him. Anyway I hope the whole team and Mustafi increase their overall performance 2nd half.
Their goal is a collective mistake for pushing up too much, the midfield line in no mans land, Iwobi poor and Miki even worse.
Hoping we will improve in the second half! We have missed to many passes in the first half!!!
Unforgivable to get caught on the counter from a mistake in our PA. Started slowly again but after the lucky OG we played some really good football.Now we have to pull ourselves together and reimpose ourselves on the game from the start of the second half otherwise Bournemouth could give us a very difficult 45mins.
There were several things wrong
on the goal but in the end it was
also a very good quick counter from
Bournemouth and a calm finish
We’re playing ok I think and with
more composure in the box we
can win this 2nd half
I’ve only just noticed we don’t
have a single defender on the
bench.
Can we please sub Miki ASAP!
Wasting opportunities
Auba did what he does best, tap in. 1-2.
Great goal….
Great pass Iwobi & Kolasinac
hahaha I spoke too soon
Get in Aubameyang !!
Fuck sake Miki just shoot
My blood pressure could do with us
getting another goal
Guendouzi for Torreira, odd. I thought Mkhi would be taken off. The one player who was playing well is being hooked.
I wouldn’t have brought Torreira
off there
Lucky, poor finish by them
For me a bad choice of subs we should have subbed Miki and possibly Xhaka…
Iwobi now?
Mkhi is having a poor game and his shooting is atrocious. Twice he has blazed the ball high into the stands. Ramsey for Iwobi.
Not sure what Mkhi has to do to be
taken off !
Can we stop giving the fucking
ball away
We have a real bad habit of giving the ball away it’s painful to watch
It is amazing that their players have so much energy and athleticism so late into the game.
Nketiah on for Auba. Get a goal kid.
Mustafi is an ass. Not another draw please.
F… me that was close
Precious precious win
Lucky to win today. But they did the job and we have broken the run of winless games. So a good day, all in all.
Winning mentality showed up again.
Note to Emery
Don’t sign Jefferson Lerma !
Iwobi had a goal second half and Holding continues solid
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Happy with the win, however we still look lethargic, we give the ball away like there’s no tomorrow! We are almost half way through the season and we still don’t know what is our best first eleven.
Miki is really frustrating to watch and I’m not sure why he was allowed to remain on the pitch for so long. Our defence is really our defence and there is nothing to add. Sokratis and Mustafi are no different to each other in my eyes, they are both accidents waiting to happen.
Even though Kolasinac wasn’t that great defensively he assisted the winning goal but we are still looking vulnerable on that flank.
Onwards and upwards it seems a win is a win that matters the most!