Everyone concerned with Arsenal will be happy and relieved tonight because we desperately needed to stop the rot. After a fantastic December and festive period, our Premier League title challenge seemed to have hit the skids with just three points taken from four EPL games and no goals in the last three.
So it was vital for the Gunners to stop the rot and even a point would not have done the trick, so a couple of goals, a clean sheet and a win over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium was just what the doctor ordered for Arsenal. As Mathieu Flamini said after the match, reported by Arsenal.com, the team really needed the confidence boost that and early goal quickly followed by another provided.
He said, “It was good to get back to a victory today. The first half we definitely needed those goals. It was a good team effort and I’m happy for the team and the fans.”
But he also knows that this was just a small step for Arsenal if we are to overhaul the current league leaders Leicester City. I am not too sure if it is good that we play them next as we could maybe have done with another game or two to really get our best game going again.
Flamini said, “Of course it is going to be another big game. First we need to recover because it was a tough game today and we played well. It is is a big game next week and we have to win it.”
If Arsenal are to win it then we are going to have to play better than we did against Bournemouth you would feel. The Foxes are flying and although the Cherries were full of energy and desire from start to finish today, the way Leicester dispatched Man City was a worry.
Wenger does have a week to prepare and that time will also allow key players Alexis Sanchez and Francis Coquelin to continue their return to full form and fitness. But will Arsenal be able to produce a performance improved enough to beat in form Leicester?