Out With The Old & In With The New
The first time this season the Cherries have lost two games on the bounce. First at home against Manchester United and then in our last game away against Newcastle United, both games losing 2-1. Now after another international break the visitors to Dean Court are Arsenal, this game is on a Sunday with a 1.30 pm kick-off because it is being televised on Sky. Just hoping our players perform better than they did when they came back from a previous international break when our visitors were Saints. Arsenal go into the game on Sunday with a ten match unbeaten run under their belts. With Eddie wanting his team to get back onto a winning track, this should be a good game to watch.
We have been used to seeing a familiar face over many years in the Arsenal dugout in Arsene Wenger. But at the end of last season the Frenchman decided his time at Arsenal was going to end. In his place has come a Spaniard by the name of Unai Emery. Emery comes from the French club Paris St-Germain where a certain Brazilian, Mr Neymar resides, remember him? The Spaniard was their manager/coach for two seasons before he joined Arsenal. Emery it seems spends hours studying videos and is very meticulousness in his planning for games, bit like our Eddie by the sounds of it. Unai Emery before joining Paris St-Germain was at Sevilla where he won the Europa League title three times. From comments from some players, he seems popular and they enjoy working with him in training.
In the summer Arsenal signed Greek international defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos from Borussia Dortmund for an undisclosed fee. From Bayer Leverkusen German international goalkeeper Bernd Leno signed for an undisclosed fee. Uruguay midfielder Lucas Torreira from Sampdoria again for an undisclosed fee. Midfield player Matteo Guendouzi from French club Lorient for a fee believed to be £8 million. Switzerland international defender Stephan Lichtsteiner who was a free agent and formerly played for Juventus. Two players leaving Arsenal are former AFCB loan player Jack Wilshere and Lucas Perez, both joined West Ham.
In his first season in charge of Arsenal, Unai Emery has had a good start in the Premier League. Arsenal have P 12, Won 7, Drawn 3 and Lost 2 games. In their last three league games Arsenal have drawn them all. Away from home they have Won 3, Drawn 1, Lost 1. They are the 3rd highest scorers with 26 in this league, scoring 12 at home in 7 games and scoring 14 away in 5 games. AFCB are 5th with 21 goals, 11 at home in 6 games. Arsenal’s defensive record puts them equal 7th with 15 conceded. At home they have conceded 6, but their three away games they have conceded 9. AFCB are equal 10th with 16 conceded, 7 at home.
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The away wins have been at Cardiff 2-3 and Newcastle 1-2 in September and Fulham 1-5 in October. Their draw was at Crystal Palace 2-2 in October. Their defeat at Chelsea 3-2 was in August.
At home they beat West Ham 3-1 in August. In September they beat both Everton and Watford 2-0. Leicester 3-1 in October. The draws were against Liverpool and Wolves, both finishing 1-1.
This season Arsenal are 5th on 24 points and AFCB 6th on 20 points.
This time last season Arsenal were in 6th place on 22 points. The Cherries were 13th on 13 points.
Since AFCB came into the Premier League, in our home games against them, the results have improved each season, from an initial defeat, to a draw the following season. In our home match against Arsenal last season, we beat them for the first time and it was at Dean Court, with the score finishing 2-1. After coming from behind from an early second half goal from Arsenal’s Bellerin, AFCB’s goals came from Wilson and Ibe. In our home games against Arsenal, AFCB have W1, D1, L1. In all competitions, AFCB have W1, D1, L5.
AFCB Team News
Adam Smith will be out for about three months with a cartilage tear in his knee. Jefferson Lerma has been out with tight hamstring. Junior Stanislas has a groin strain. Asmir Begovic has a thumb/wrist injury and is a slight doubt. Josh King has been out with an ankle injury, he also is a slight doubt. No news yet on the fitness of our players who have been away on international duty.
AFCB Player To Watch
Callum Wilson, worked hard on his England debut and finally was rewarded with a goal. Wilson should be on a ‘high’ going into this game. He could be a threat to the Arsenal defence if he gets the right passes, which at times playing for England he didn’t.
Arsenal Team News
Alexandre Lacazette has had a groin injury and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has a back injury, both players are slight doubts. Danny Welbeck has an ankle injury. Stephan Lichtsteiner has a hamstring injury. Konstantinos Mavropanos has a groin strain. Laurent Koscielny has an achilles injury. Nacho Monreal has a hamstring injury and is a slight doubt.
Arsenal Player To Watch
Alexandre Lacazette seems to be doing well under his new manager and is also building a good relationship with his fellow striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Lacazette has scored 5 goals and has 2 assists. His strike partner Aubameyang has scored 7 goals and has 1 assist. Mesut Ozil is always a threat in midfield.
