Since lifting the trophy for a record 13th time in 2017, the Gunners haven’t made it past this stage in either of the last two seasons, whilst the Cherries advanced only once past the fourth round in their history.
With both sides experiencing underwhelming league campaigns, the Gunners at 10th-place on the log and the Cherries inside the drop zone at 18th, this cup tie certainly provides a welcome distraction, at least from the weekly burden of bread and butter expectations.
The north London side got to this round courtesy of a 1-0 win over Leeds United earlier in the month, and Mikel Arteta made intentions clear that he is keen on a good cup run when he selected a near-full strength side for that match. In the outfield fringe players Mattéo Guendouzi and Reiss Nelson were the only two coming into the side for then injured Lucas Torreira and ill Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang respectively. In goal Emiliano Martínez rotated with Bernd Leno as has been the norm with league and FA cup games.
So today, I think we can expect that same intent as the Spaniard continues his rebuild of this Gunners side into a focused and workmanlike unit.
Bournemouth come into this match on the back of a good 3-1 league win against Brighton. However, their only other win in their last eight games was the FA Cup third round tie against Luton Town, making their situation a bit more precarious.
So while the Cherries faithful will be hoping the recent victory will see their side turning a corner, Eddie Howe must be faced with a difficult choice; does he go full strength to give his side the best chance at winning this game, or do he give some of his first choice players some needed rest, after a gruelling fixture run, ahead of their league match against fellow strugglers Aston Villa. Who wants to be coach?
Team news
The Gunners will be without David Luiz, as he joins Auba on the sidelines through suspension as a result of his red card at Chelsea.
Sead Kolasinac, Calum Chambers, Kieran Tierney and Nelson remain unavailable due to injury, though Sokratis is back in contention after missing the last two games with illness.
Dani Ceballos, whose future faces uncertainty, may get a rare start.
Predictions
With these two sides playing out a 1-1 draw when we visited the Vitality on Boxing day, the general feel may be that this will be another close game. However, I suspect the home side may not go full throttle, especially ahead of an important fixture this weekend. So my money will be on Arsenal remain making it through to the next round. COYG!
Positively Arsenal 
Thanks Labo, also see this one as being close, as much as I would like to see our opponent on the wrong end of 4 or 5 goals.
Just hope we avoid a replay
On another note, seems our proposed new defender has flown back to Brazil, conflicting reports out there, some saying the deal has collapsed as Arsenal have moved the goal posts. If true, dithering over transfers, last minute collapses of deals, thought all that was supposed to stop when Wenger left the building!
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I’d like Eddie and Ceballos to get a run, maybe Willock,too. Not a clue how it will pan out but look forward to each game at the minute.
On Mari, I should stick with my ultimate belief of there not being much point saying anything as who knows what real circumstances are. But I’m not. Supposing there’s truth in either us not having the cash, or messing player and his club around by changing terms late on…that would be pretty worrying. Primarily because you’d imagine Edu, Arteta or both would perhaps be given their first dose of serious frustration, and a concrete example of how restrictions could impinge on their plans.
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Maybe he just needs to go back to Brazil to sort his stuff out
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About a 12 hour flight to Brazil from London, so entirely possible that he has flown in, agreed terms, had his medical and flown home to say good bye and take his library books back.
Or that at the last minute the selling club changed their demands – and were told no deal.
Or that a bigger and better deal suddenly materialised for either party.
Or that it transpired that he would not get a work permit given the imminence of UK leaving the EU (think he is Spanish not Brazilian)
All of those much more likely I would think than Arsenal not having the money – but nowhere near as good a story for those who like to paint the club in a bad light.
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Win and advance. That’s all that matters in knockout competition. Come on, boys.
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COYG
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Saka! 1-0 to the Arse
COYG!!!
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Can anyone recommend a live stream?
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This Vietnamese site has been great all season. Can’t even remember how I found it. http://tructuyenbongda.info/tran-dau/truc-tiep-bournemouth-vs-arsenal-20881969
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2-0 Nketiah!
Assist by Saka…
COYG!!!
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VAR check by the PGMOL,,,they just can’t take the Arse being 2 up within 26 mins..
Goal given.
Pepe almost just scored a 3rd!
COYG!!!!
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VAR check…negative..goal given.
Pepe almost adds a 3rd,,,
Arsenal in complete control
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Many thanks Birdkamp!
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Teams have every incentive to kick two shades of shit out of us. It’s a tried and tested strategy.
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is that seven shades of shit? I dunno how many shades
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My thoughts too birdy
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I should have said “win and advance and try not to get maimed.”
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Bournemouth used rough-house tactics and got away with it. Bad old days are here again?
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I managed to see most of the second half. I thought we looked good, composed and in control.
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Ref disgraceful loads of head clashes and not once did he stop the game immediately he should be sacked straight away.
Lads done great though good old ARSENAL
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Decent performance, youngsters doing well and gaining experience.
Thought our MF was excellent.
A real shame for Mustafi, he was having a good game, hope his injury isn’t too bad, but if it’s as bad as it looked, and , let’s face it, you expect when an Arsenal player gets injured, wonder if it may focus the minds of our transfer negotiators
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Surprised not more comments. Hell of a lot to think about on that one.
At some point after 2-0, my happiness began to be coloured a little with concern that such domination would lead to the normal response, and as game progressed there was plenty of angst mixed with the enjoyment.
Sure enough they upped the aggression a lot, whipped themselves up to that frame of mind and way of playing where the bad fouls normally come from, and Atkinson was more than happy to let them.
There weren’t any real stinkers, I suppose, but more than enough for a normal ref to spot what was happening and try and sort it out. To think, the bastard’s previous job was a police officer!
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Ian
Atkinson has real form with that. Did one of our cup semis, in that recent spell where we won three, and repeatedly played on when players were down with head injuries.
Don’t know if I’d ever seen us get clumped so much in air, with arms and heads, as in that game. At one stage I swear I saw the moment when, after seeing player get nasty bang to head, he quickly turned away so as to pretend he wasn’t aware of it.
Thinking back, believe he did that with Bellerin in Alonso incident. Eyes trained right on it, saw how heavy a whack player took, eyes stayed on him for a moment when hit deck, then rapidly turned head away to look where Alonso was celebrating. Again, looked to me like done so he could feign not being aware what had happened, ie elbow to head before contact with ball. Truly loathe the man
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Anyway, now that’s out of way, high time for the positives, and boy there were some tonight.
More excellent signs for Bellerin’s fitness (Rob next, hopefully). He had me worried but I should have known to give it longer after ACL.
Saka, Martinelli. Oof. The talent and potential of those two.
Ceballos with a nice cameo.
Eddie, Willock, Matteo making it a very good evening for our youngsters.
Plenty more besides.
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The obvious plus was the performance of the youngsters. I was also encouraged that despite changes we had a coherent approach. Both suggest enjoyable days ahead.
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James Olayinka, 19 year old Arsenal youth midfielder has joined League Two side Northampton Town on a loan until the end of the season
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Ed
Quite like that loan. Certainly adds bit of interest to league programme for me now looking out for him, Emile and Tyreece. Slightly easier to know what to make of how it’s going for strikers and goal-scoring midfielders than defenders, mind. Sheaf plays every week and gets mixed (twitter) reviews, and not sure how it’s gone with Osei-Tutu bar couple of clips.
That u23 squad isn’t the biggest though, and u18 a little light this year, so these loans could well leave us a bit short with both teams for rest of season, and another 1 or 2 could see us truly struggle.
Still, though, very happy at moment with our youth prospects.
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The full transcript of Mikel Arteta’s post-match press conference following the Gunners FA Cup win over Bournemouth
By Art De Roche
23:05, 27 JAN 2020
Six games unbeaten, into the fifth round. How pleased are you?
“I’m very pleased. I knew it was going to be tough here, we played a really young squad today and I wanted to see their reaction and I’m very pleased because I saw a lot of things that I really liked.”
How bad is the Mustafi injury?
“They’re going to assess him between today and tomorrow but when a player has to come off – normally and central defender, hopefully I’m wrong – but normally it’s not good news.”
Does it make a move for Pablo Mari more necessary?
“We had a very clear intention of what we wanted to do in the market with the resources we have. If we can do it fine but his (Mustafi’s) fitness won’t change anything.”
What pleased you most about the young team?
“In the first half I think we were really good. They did everything we planned in a really good way. They have courage to play and make big decisions, they are important in this side, there is no icing on the cake, they are probably the core of that team at the moment and to play with that accountability and (making) that decision, I really like it.”
Saka, Willock and Nketiah were excellent…
“They were terrific, their work rate. As well, for me it’s the courage to play and make big decisions – to not be scared and play safe, that’s the difference with these three kids. Eddie again was terrific and Joe as well. I really like Joe in that position (No.10.) I think he can be an outstanding player playing there and he showed (that) tonight.”
Does Nketiah’s goal prove he’s going to play games?
“You look at him on the wing, three seconds later… you see the cross and he’s there all the time in the middle of the goal. That’s where he scores goals, he’s always in the middle of the goal ready to do that and as well the way he works without the ball is terrific.”
22 passes led to the first goal. Is that the football you’ve been bringing?
“If we can score in two passes (it’s) better. So we don’t need that many but obviously we need to move the opponent and find the right spaces to attack and they’ve done it really well. I think the two goals were really nice.”
How important could a cup run be?
“It gives you a lift. Going an extra round and you look at your next opponent, we’re closer to Wembley which is a magnificent day. Let’s go step by step but they are really willing. I had experience (of winning) as a player and I want to experience as a manager now.”
How does being captain compare to being manager?
“You sleep worse for sure before the games and it’s a completely different life. I am pleased with today’s performance, let’s go step by step and see where we get.”
Could Saka be best at left-back long term?
“It’s the situation now because we don’t have any left-bacls. What I like is that he put his head down – it’s not his favourite position to play – but we try to adapt him with his qualities to play as much as possible in the position that he likes. But then he’s very willing to learn all the defensive principles that we are asking him to do and his attitude is really good.”
Portsmouth will be a test with their small ground…
“It was here, it will be there all the FA Cup games away from home are like this but we will analyse and I’m sure it will be difficult.”
What would you say to any club – including Barcelona – that will be thinking of signing Aubameyang?
“I want Auba here 100%. I am so happy with him and I can’t wait to have him available again after the suspension.”
Can Bournemouth stay in the Premier League?
“I have great sympathy for the way they play, for the ground, for the manager. I hope they stay because I think they deserve it and they’ve been very unlucky with some results this season as well and hopefully that can get out of that (the relegation battle)
Where is Mustafi’s injury?
“Ankle.”
Is he going to have a scan?
“Tomorrow.”
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Bukayo Saka on 22 passes in the build-up to his goal: “Mikel is trying to bring back the philosophy, the Arsenal passing way & I feel we played really good football in the first-half.”
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Don’t often look at comments elsewhere as they’re mostly horrendous, but just dipped my toe into comments beneath BBC match report. About 3 in :
‘Only saw the second half but Arsenal were horrible to watch. Mustafi aside – get well soon – (hurt by his own goalkeeper), the Gunners were falling like mortally wounded soldiers whilst knowing the enemy were only using blanks at worst. Horrible, horrible cheats. A shame on football and no credit to Arteta. This increasing plague needs to be gone from football and refs and VAR need to get tough.’
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Hard to take that the countries football fans have been brainwashed like this, enough to call night day and, it seems, literally to see a false reality.
It’s only football, but it disturbs and aggravates me a lot. In itself and also for the way it demonstrates how it goes with the more serious stuff in life, and how people can interpret it so strangely
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The worst one for me was the deliberate foot left in on martinelli’s ankle. Atkinson not interested Bournemouth twat doing the get up gesture, no replay slow mo no VAR etc etc. No comment from BT muppets.
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The cheating has been undeniable by any and all since Stoke Away 17/18, particularly in Away games, for obvious reasons.
Emery hit a wall when he was literally hit by the pgMOB in that Utd Away fixture. And he didn’t have the footballs to cope.
Our predictable cheats and clowns at the pgMOB whose singular achievement in football is the continuing failure of the England football team (well done The Mikes) have already dished out two reds to Mikel’s Arsenal.
“When you play for the Arsenal you get kicked” said Jack. And boy did they kick him. Off the park & into an early end. Arteta too.
Arteta knows.
“Bad luck in the early fixtures” he said. Hehe.
“Special Circumstances” said another.
We’ve got our Arsenal back.
COYG.
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The pgMOB meme/PR is to “protect our game”
People have been paid money to repeat this mantra.
People in a “PR” company were paid money to compose it.
Are they making clowns of themselves through sheer incompetence using Microsoft Paint so poorly that people are laughing at them when compared to their peers on the rest of the planet or are these mafia lickspittles actually this scared of a humble video replay system that could undermine their cosy clique of cheating plonkers and hacks with no skill between themselves? Which could it be?
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What a great first half performance and only a shame that Pepe didn’t make it 3 when he really might have done – as that would have probably meant that all the roughhousing didn’t happen (if you see what I mean).
We have some terrific young players (fumy how little acknowledgement of that there is by those who normally make such a thing about young talent).
I don’t know if we’ve got our Arsenal back, because I don’t know what that means – but what I do know is that I have got that sense of excitement, worry and pride back.
And the lack of VAR checking for serious foul play on Martinelli was scandalous.
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Don’t know when fixture falls but I think would be wise to omit Guendouzi from starting place vs Pompey.
The hate figure stuff and the targeting of him had quietened down a bit but prob reached new heights yesterday. He doesn’t help himself but does have plenty of cause for complaint as well. As a comparison, though, Mctominay of Utd, big lump though he is, goes down more theatrically when fouled, face contorted in agony, and puts in harder dirtier fouls than Matteo. never gets any attention from comms, opponents nor opposition fans for it.
Anyway, our players are in more danger than should be on any day, Guendo higher than most of them, and it will be up an extra level again down at Pompey. Just hope Arteta sees it that way. Seen people almost salivating on twitter at prospect of them smashing him, and it’s all connected for me, ie that stuff does tend to feed back into what happens on pitch
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Much of the same treatment for our players. Know they are not unique, but if that was what Bournemouth have to resort to, I sincerely hope they get relegated.
Bet Mike Dean in VAR was trying his utmost not to give one of our goals as well.
Our players kicked every game, yet the team top on reds and yellows (with Tottenham an increasingly close second on the bookings)- yet we are nowhere near top when it comes to fouls committed- we commit the fewest fouls to get a yellow- explain that Riley?
Nobody seeing the favourable decisions Leicester and Liverpool get virtually every game will be surprised to learn they get the least cards, less than half the yellows we have had for starters. Vardy, Salah, Firminho, Mane and Maddison can dive with impunity, believe we also have the most cards for diving? Liverpool and Leicester have to make 10+fouls per card, we have to make around 4.
Lets just call it what it is- match fixing. It seems even worse this season- one last hurrah for Riley before technology or something else finally forces his hand?
Interesting point about Emery at Utd. Not a lot of point now, but would love to hear Emerys side of the story on a few things, not least the PGMOL, which he seemed less and less able to comprehend, or cope with, but like Wenger was probably silenced
How a manager could go from 3 European trophies a few years back to the broken man he left Arsenal could be a story in itself, I am sure there are many facets to this story and this flawed, out of his depth manager, but equally sure the PGMOL played its part, as they did with Wenger
Arteta will know exactly what is going on, will have his own ideas on how to deal with it, whether he can is another matter
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Mandy
Was an interesting bt of commentary on Lille PSG game at weekend. Home side were fired up from go, charging about, late hits, snapping away at Neymar in particular. One player was extremely aggressive, even after booking. Manager took him off as was really pushing luck.
Anyway, commentator said simple truth that this is the risk a head coach runs when he sends out players very fired up and under instruction to play aggressively, fair and foul.
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Such a simple truth about the sport, and cost/benefit/risk of that approach. But felt startling to hear a Brit commentator mention it, casually. I’m not sure our lot go near that truth often in prem games and for ours it is absolutely never mentioned.
Without fail, they will quickly start talking about how team are standing off us if we play well, but they never link extra aggression with commensurate rise in risk of fouls (nor, of course, injuries).
This of course is extremely helpful I allowing refs to behave as though there is no particular link between high aggression and increased foul play.
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A new post is up
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