Good day one all.
Arsenal host Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon on the back of a very busy week, before heading into an international break.
A scrappy draw away at Manchester United on Monday night saw us crept back into top-four, then a brilliant opening 20 minute spell vs Standard Liège in Thursday’s Europa tie, was enough for a comfortable 4-0 victory.
Now one could be forgiven for thinking the ease of the midweek wins would be great momentum going into league games, but it hasn’t quite gone that way has it? You see the ‘cup team’ play with freedom, control games that they can even afford taking their foot of the pedal as games goes on. You see our depth in talent, the potential in this team and it raise our hopes, but then we get to to the Premier League and it’s as if everybody are in their shells as we adapt our play to the strengths of our opposition, including those we are expected to brush aside without much fuss.
That’s the frustration many have with Unai Emery’s methods, because there is good reason to believe this team can go toe-to-toe with any team if he just take the shackles off. But alas.
It’s been tight schedule of late but I don’t think fatigue should be a concern with Emery likely to revert to his regular league starters after giving the young uns and fringe players a Europa run. The injured returnees Bellerín, Tierney and Holding were again impressive, also Mustafi amongst the senior ones. Making good cases for ‘call ups’, but with the short turnaround it may be an unnecessary risk to play them so soon. However, Emery will have much to ponder about during the inter-break.
Bournemouth had a bright start to their season, sitting just one point behind us on the table. They have scored in each of their games played thus far, which should be very encouraging for Eddie Howe, however, having not yet keeping a clean sheet should be a worry as that all too familiar is being asked… what’s going to happen once the goals dry up?
The Cherries are still winless against the Gunners in seven previous meetings. Last season we beat them home and away, with a 5-1 scoreline at the Emirates.
They may fancy breaking their duck today, playing their brand of open and attacking football, which of course will work in our favour and I can already see Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, our resident flat-track bully, looking at their leaky defense sporting the largest grin.
I’m predicting one of those entertaining games where both sides get on the score sheet, with Arsenal coming out on top to move up to third on the table.
This is the first in a nine-game run against teams outside the traditional top-six sides, giving Arsenal an opportunity to string together a run of decent results before the mid-December peak.
Com’on Emery… you know we can do it!
@LaboGoon
Positively Arsenal 
Nice one Labo. Perfectly put.
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Thanks Labo. As you say, its quite a connundrum, with the midweek side looking like an Arsenal side I recognize, whilst the weekend (weakened?) team simply doesn’t. But then, the money on offer in the Premier League has meant that every side is now much stronger than it used to be, especially early in the season so perhaps it is naive of me to hope for too much fluency and adventure against Bournemouth this afternoon. And of course against the manager that I was hoping would take over from AW.
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Thank you Labo.
The Bournemouth coach is an excellent and admirable coach in the game. In my list of 15!
As you highlight last season unlike Nuno’s Wolves or Roy’s Palace they didn’t play Unai’s Arsenal off the park when they opposed the Gunners in North London.
I hope the Gunners can gnab the three points, the club website says the fixture last season was, quoting the club not me, “an Ozil masterclass”
I don’t expect it to be as easy this season.
Evidentially the Emery degeneracy? The trends in the stats are not encouraging but I hope not.
COYG!
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claims that this is our starting 11 today
Leno, Chambers, Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasinac; Xhaka, Guendouzi, Ceballos, Saka, Pepe, Aubameyang
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Thanks Labo. Today would be a good day to capitalise on a few top four rivals, one especially!
I hope they take that chance
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Ozil not in the squad once more
Team: Leno, Chambers, Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasinac; Xhaka, Guendouzi, Ceballos, Saka, Pepe, Aubameyang
subs:Martinez, Holding, Tierney, Torreira, Maitland-Niles, Willock, Martinelli
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If that is the starting XI then it is to me exciting that a player like Saka has come in to the side and been able to stake a claim. Let’s hope he has another good game today, and that Pepe begins to show his talent.
And how annoying that in the UK the match is not to be seen on the TV.
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Excellent LG, COYG.
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Given the interviews from Ramsey and Koscielny this past week, in addition to the comments from Sven a month ago:
I don’t think there is a single Arsenal fan that can support the conduct and actions of Raul and Unai here. They are damaging the club.
They can try to support them, of course they can, but they will fail, just as Emery’s defence has been failing on the pitch.
Anyways hopefully Bournemouth haven’t been studying Emery’s woeful attempts at defending (himself or his team) COYG.
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Fins, Where did the Ramsey & Koscielny comments appear?
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foreverhedy download a browser with a vpn such as opera and you should be able to get a good stream from the like of first row sports
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900ft I seen kos comments on twitter, think they were taken from lequipe, he basically said he decided that he needed to extend his career by playing in a less intense league, and that with so many of his friends having left Arsenal in the a short time frame it was the right time to go. That Emery understood this, and that for the sake of his career and his family life he had to leave and had no other choice but to force the move. That the club knew he wanted out for a while and that he left holding his head high after 9 years service
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David Luizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz makes it 1-0 to the Arsenal with his first goal for us,
8 minutes in and we have dominated this game, AFCB have been very defensive so far
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Early goal!
Luiz’s first Arsenal goal, header from Pepe’s corner.
COYG
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not sure how VAR did not deem that a penalty for a foul on Pepe
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20 mins gone.
Half chance for Pepe on a counter.
Bournemouth with a good chance after Guendouzi gets caught on the ball in his own half not for the first time this game or season but fortunately this time doesn’t result in a goal for the opposition.
Strong shout for a penalty foul on Pepe. As strong as Mane’s? Not given.
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How on earth is that not a penalty.
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Luiz with some of his trademark passing out from the back to Chambers high up on the right but he can’t find the delivery this time.
Good game so far for the veteran Brazilian following on from his performance at OT.
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Bournemouth struggling to get onto the ball but almost carve out a chance, Chambers with some good defending but Ceballos showing some inexperience in his own D gives the ball away but the other FB Kolasinac snuffs out the danger and forces the opposition to pick up a yellow as he powered his way up the field on the counter.
Saka also playing well.
The progress this season is in the squad being used in the Europa group games, these players all look fresh and eager to impress after their squad mates put in a good performance midweek.
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Mustafi is keeping David Luiz on his toes.
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Half TIme: Arsenal 1-0 Bournemouth,
David Luiz with the goal, a header six yards out from a Pepe corner.
We have dominated the game almost completely but have created no clear cut chances, and only a few half chances. But I’m still not sure how VAR has not given Pepe at least one if not two penalties.
Still a bit too much sideways and backways passing going on, but AFCB are not coming out to play and as long as we lead then its ok to be a bit safe in our approach, but it feels like if we just went for them a bit more we could destroy them.
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Chambers called for a foul after simply holding his ground. the pgmo love to entertain.
Arsenal often building down the right in this half. And they also see out the final few minutes controlling the ball without gifting any good chances for the opponents which is an encouraging improvement on recent games.
Bournemouth haven’t been great but they’ve also not seen their keeper have to make a save since the goal.
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other half times
southamtpon 1-3 chelsea
man city 0-0 wolves
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More chelski youngster wank fest incoming. Like they had a choice
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Sokratis turned by Wilson on the run but Luiz covers well.
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bournemouth have come to life and go close to scoring twice in as many minutes.
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Oh my after some exceptionally meek defending from the Gunners Wilson breaks last several defenders but can’t find a teammate to apply the easy finish.
Emeryball eh. Hanging on to a 1-0 against Bournemouth for the next fourty mins? I hope not.
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Bournemouth have been poor on the ball all season according to Shard,
hopefully they won’t have the quality to make or convert their chances.
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In contrast to the first half looks like the Gunners are sitting off the opponents in this current spell…
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Oh boy yep the back line have dropped off. You should’ve put money on it!
Leno makes a good clearnance from a cross.
Bournemouth invited to have a spell of pressure. The Gunners look to counter but a heavy touch from Saka sees the Gunners back on the defence. Solanki shoots wide.
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Need to hold the ball now for a spell but that’s harder to do when sat back.
Yep. Bournemouth back on the attack.
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61 minutes Pepe off, Martinelli on
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Good play from Ceballos on Saka sees the Gunners back in the opposition box.
Martinelli on for Pepe.
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Another cross from Wilson fortunately Chambers covers from RB and defends with strength and skill to see off the dangerous chance.
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David Luiz down injured after Kolasinac falls into him at a corner
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Good defending this time from Sokratis tonsee off Fraser.
Arsenal back in their last third not sure how chucking on the 18 year old ahead of say Torreira for Gunedouzi can help in such circumstances but hey I guess we’ll find out in after another half dozen transfer windows.
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Saka now being asked to play on the right for the first time with the seniors?
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The exciting martinelli nearly lifts the ball into Auba’s path.
Corner results in a goal kick.
Ball is back with Bournemouth.
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Martinelli with a late hack to pick up a yellow.
Saka not been in the game so much for since he switched over. Twenty to go, hopefully he’ll get a run at the tiring RB.
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73 minutes ceballos off willock on
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No Torreira the inexperienced Willock is tasked with helping to manage the midfield alongside Guendouzi for the closing spell of the contest.
Xhaka has been playing like some kind of sweeper of late?
Have the Gunners had a shot on target since the goal?
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Arsenal deep as against Watford/ Utd etc but this time the long range effort rises over.
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man city 0-1 wolves
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81 minutes saka off torreira on
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Arsenal have a shot!
Whoo hoo!
And Auba hits the post. Marginal offside call too. Imagine if he’d had a couple more chances…
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City 0 Wolves 2
Top coach that Nuno is…
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Full Time: Arsenal 1-0 Bournemouth
David Luiz with our winner, we dominated the first half but created very little, AFCB much more in it in the second half where we created even less than the first half, but a win is a win is a win.
Chambers our stand out player, we are now 3rd just 1pt off 2nd place man city who lost 2-0 at home to wolves.
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Nuno’s Wolves win two nil Away to the champions.
Emery’s Arsenal had two shots on target at home against Bournemouth.
Three points, clean sheet!! Great games for Luiz and Chambers, both of them my stand out performers. A relatively good defensive performance for Kola too.
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I wonder will the media mention that spurs are 13pts off top spot but only 11pts off bottom spot, you know how they would if AFC was in their position.
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Man the football under Emery is so boring.
Hung on to a 1-0 lead against Bournemouth at home for 80mins. Rubbish. Should have finished them off in the first half itself. Our passing and overall attack is so slow.
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