Arsenal overcome the nerves to get past dangerous Bournemouth

After already playing out three draws in Nasty November, Arsenal could easily have made it four yesterday and we would have had to change the name to Nervous November as Bournemouth managed to create many chances to get a second equaliser before Alexis Sanchez put the game to bed in the 90th minute.

Arsene Wenger described it after the game, when he was asked if he was surprised at how well the Cherries played. “Not really” he replied. “because they weren’t exactly the side I wanted to play after Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain. They are a tricky side who can keep the ball and, if you’re not well organised, you can be in trouble. On top of that, I felt we started well but when they equalised we were nervous and that’s where having three consecutive draws played a little bit on our minds.

“At half-time it was down to us to calm down and focus on the game we wanted to play. In the second half we created many dangerous situations but Bournemouth remained dangerous too because they can keep the ball well and attack very well. They’re one of the teams who can compare their possession with the top teams in the Premier League.”

Wenger said that it didn’t help that the referee turned down a penalty appeal from Sanchez before giving Bournemouth one which allowed them to draw level before the break. “My view is that we should have had a penalty for a foul on Alexis, and that the penalty which was given [against us] was a very soft one. It was a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge and I was really amazed that he gave a penalty.

“From that moment on, we became nervous and they suddenly because more dynamic going forward. We lost some balls and put ourselves in trouble. We had to calm down at half-time and just focus on the game.”

They were not really much calmer in the second half, and the nerves were only settled in the 90th minute, but the fact is that we have got back to winning ways, and November is not looking quite so nasty any more. Another win in midweek, against Southampton, will mean we are unbeaten for 20 games, and more importantly unbeaten in November!

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10 Comments

    1. They were dangerous of curse.
      Imagine what is running in Jack’s head, his mind is in one place while his mind at the other,
      Jack at the emirates think like: ‘am I at home or away? Calm down Jack you were at home.

      Elneny has improved on last Man U’s game, a bit faster and more straight forward alongside Xhaka.

      #Alexis Sanchez ladies and gents.

  1. It was a very exciting game to watch, very fast end to end football. Bournemouth played very well, hats off to them for giving it full tilt 90 minutes, but we kept it together and worked extremely hard for the win.

  2. Actually Bournemouth were very dangerous, and I was nervous all the way through the game. In fact I was nervous from the timme I found out Wenger had made 7 changes!

    But the whole idea of having a big squad is so we can rotate so I’m glad we came through without dropping any points.

  3. He says Bourn are not necessarily the team you’d want to play after utd psg and so on. I’d have to disagree with that. Teams who come out and try to play ball but do not have the big names, these are exactly who suit us, esp if we are at home and they don’t sit in. Still fair due to them, they want to play attacking football and they stuck to it.

    1. Yes. Those guys came to play football and did not pack the bus even at 1 -1.
      It’s this kind of team that we should be comfortable with after tough games.
      I solute their manager.

      1. I won’t mind him (Eddie) to take over when Le prof. Decides to wave and emotional bye-bye.

        Do anyone notice we always play better without Ramsey?? Just saying.

  4. Just like to add even though all of our players were excellent, I though Elneny and Mustafi need a special mention. Elneny chased all game and closed many gaps forcing them to play sideways a lot of the time. Mustafi was just super composed and him and Koscileny are probably the best CB pairing in the league right now. Sanchez when he is in form, best player in the league without a doubt, and Ozil was simply magic, they can criticize him all they want, he adds that something special to our attack because he thinks outside the box (no pun intended)

  5. Harzard has ruled us out of contention, only talking of City and Pool as rivals even when we spank them for 3.
    Can our boys prove them wrong? I pray so and I believe. We are winning and stealing points this season from matches we would have left with nothing the previous seasons. It is a sign.
    Yes we got the 3 points yesterday. That mattered most.

  6. Big ups to Bournemouth for comin to play and doing so. Some people here think that we should be steam rollin over every team not in the top 5. The days of those teams outside the top 5 being afraid and just laying down is over and has been for a few years.
    This is the EPL. Any team, regardless of their table standings can put one in ya and twist it off, if you don’t turn up…
    Looks like we’re gettin our mojo back. Just when we need it most. Let’s keep it this way till May.

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