Bournemouth v Arsenal – There are good reasons to believe that Arsenal will emerge the victors today.
Arsenal are in bad shape there is no denying that but Bournemouth is arguably in a worse condition right now.
The Cherries have managed just one win and a whopping six losses in their last seven Premier League games, this is not a team in good heart.
That solitary win for Eddie Howe’s men was the freaky 1-0 away win at Chelsea but that to me was nothing more than a blip and the following 1-0 home loss to Burnley was more indicative of their current form.
In fact, Bournemouth has lost their last three home games against Liverpool, Wolves and Burnley.
We all know what Arsenal’s form is but we have slightly different circumstances with a new manager on board, that can lead to a new manager bounce and a change in attitude from the players.
Whatever Mikel Arteta brings to the table it will not change things overnight, especially with some of the senior players who are just treading water until they are moved on.
But you have to think that most of the players will want to impress the new manager and stake a claim for a regular spot in the lineup.
I do not expect to see any Man City style of play today, I actually feel that Arteta will go a little pragmatic, it is all about not losing and that will probably determine the Spaniards thinking.
I have said repeatedly if the players cover the basics and do their jobs correctly then they can beat almost any team in the Premier League, hopefully, Arteta has at least got to that stage where he has instructed the players to get the simple stuff right.
I reckon he will have done so and that will be enough to see Arsenal over the line today.
Predicted Score
Bournemouth 0-2 Arsenal.
You know I’ve been saying the board promised the managers they spoke with a big defender signing. Also how the board found Koulibaly too expensive last summer and identified Upamecano & Ruben Dias as target.
Well a very Merry Christmas to y’all, the past few days, the board has approached Napoli for Koulibaly.
No update yet.
Personally I feel it has to do with Napoli having interest in our players, Maybe we’ll give money and one of Torreira or Kolasinac for Koulibaly.
I also doubt Napoli will let him go this Jan.
Probably if Negotiations goes well, we’ll have Koulibaly next summer.
For now, the board has only made an approach to Napoli.
I hope I get to see today’s match, I might miss it but I hope not
It would be stupid of us to give away Torreira. We’d be back to square one without a decent DM again, because Ndidi won’t go for cheap, let alone any decent DM.
Torreira has been badly managed by Emery, he’s a brilliant DM, we see that in his Uruguay performances.
If the players of any team (including Bournemouth) cover the basics and do their jobs correctly, then they can beat almost any team in the Premier League.
Half the goals come from defender mistakes.
25% are luck like deflections.
25% are quality finishes.
Don’t forget this squad under Inspector clueless Emery Clouseau
only missed CL by just 1 point in the league and made the EL final.
This year the team has been strengthened even further.
Bellerin Luiz Martinelli Pepe Ceballos Tierney are in.
Arsenal has the most potent attack in the league on paper.
So if “Unai Good Ebbening” can get EL final and 5th in the PL by one point surely
Arteta with 12 years PL experience must get top 4 in the league and win the EL?