AFCB can set up a win in the first 45 minutes against Arsenal

Arsenal have an unenviable record of not being ahead in any of their Premier League games by half time and yet they have managed to rack up seven wins from their 12 matches, and have only been beaten by Chelsea and Man City. Unai Emery has shaped Arsenal into a team that relishes a fight back, but their slow starts could be their undoing against AFCB.

Arsenal were beaten 2-1 last time at Dean Court.

Against Leicester, Arsenal managed to win having gone a goal down but they could only muster a draw against Wolves having conceded first. Even Fulham, who Arsenal swept aside 5-1 went into their match level at half-time. So if Eddie Howe can engender his players to come out with the kind of start they made against Man United, in their last home match and take their chances, Bournemouth could find themselves out of sight by half-time against Arsenal.

Catching Arsenal cold is surely what Bournemouth will aim to do. For all the praise for the way Aubameyang has been scoring goals (seven so far) and the forward play of Ozil (three goals) and Lacazette (five goals), there is a weakness about Arsenal's defence, which has let in 15 goals, only one less than AFCB. Arsenal have also only managed two clean sheets. Kolasinac has come in for most of the criticism, while Petr Cech has been replaced by Bernd Leo in goal. The midfield performances of Iwobi and Xhaka have also not found top gear this season and with big games for Arsenal to play against Spurs and Man United next, the Bournemouth match is perhaps a last chance for some of these players to demonstrate that they have what it takes to be starting in a Unia Emery team.

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So Arsenal come to Dean Court with confidence in going on an unbeaten run, but knowing that they have found defeats when they have played other teams in the top six. Wolves gave them a scare in their last outing on home turf and playing away at AFCB is likely to be a bigger test for Arsenal. They also pay Bournemouth at perhaps a moment when Eddie Howe is desperate to get back to winning ways after the Cherries' recent defeats. 

Possible AFCB line up

AFCB Subs: Boruc, Mings, Gosling, Surman, Ibe, Stanislas, Defoe

Welbeck double helps sink Eddie's down-trodden side 3-0

Match Report

Arsenal 3 v 0 AFC Bournemouth

9 September 2017

Attendance: 56,262

Things started off sunny and full of optimism
but things soon turned out wet and flat for AFCB.

If this is the best kind of performance that Eddie Howe can get his side to make against an Arsenal side that were lacking in confidence themselves, then problems run very deep for AFCB this season. While Danny Welbeck made the most of an early cross to get the Gunners off to a great start, there were distraught faces among Bournemouth fans when a simple long ball from Ozil unlocked the Cherries' defence for a second time before half time. Lacazette finished with a superb predator's determination, which was sadly lacking in AFCB's zero shots registered in the first half. Defoe might have got Bournemouth fans singing, had he directed his shot inside the post, in the first few minutes of the second half, but when Welbeck made it three, Eddie Howe was left in a place that very people would want to be right now.

AFCB in their away kit.

After the international break AFCB decided to make a change with Ryan Fraser replacing Andrew Surman in the starting 11. But if Bournemouth fans thought that Andrew Surman was the root cause of all the side's ills they were about to see that it was the whole side that isn't functioning well.

There are more pictures on Match Day Gallery.

Arsenal line up for the game.

Bournemouth played in their resplendent turquoise-blue away kit and while it would not be long before the rain dampened the afternoon, there was more than the rain to be worried about. Arsenal started with a real vengeance as Sead Kolasinac sprinting down the left to tease a fine cross out that was met by a backward stooping Danny Welbeck who gave the Gunners the lead with barely five minutes gone. It was not the start Eddie Howe needed.

Any game plan suddenly disappeared as Asmir Begovic started kicking long. The ball kept coming back even quicker with Graint Xhaka going close with a long range effort that Begovic had to get down to keep out. A free kick taken by Mezut Ozil went closer still with Begovic again showing his diving prowess as he leapt high to his right to stop the German extending the lead.

We hadn't even passed 20 minutes, but Bournemouth were simply not in the game. Ryan Fraser took a heavy knock and tried to carry on as best he could. Arter was getting frustrated and complained at the lack of movement up front. AFCB's favourite pass was back to Begovic.

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Begovic could do little though when a long pass through the middle landed at Lacazette's feet. Aké over-stepped the ball and Lacazette was free to play a one-two with Welbeck and smash a second goal past Begovic on 27 minutes. Things started to really unravel then when Tyrone Mings fed Begovic a back pass that the keeper took an age to get rid of and Welbeck stole in to challenge him before Lacazette forced a point blank save from Begovic. that saw the ball crumble into a punctured relic. The keeper began his rant at Mings, but in truth he should have been able to deal with the back pass.

Playing out from the back was now becoming less of an option as Begovic started kicking everything.The luckless Ryan Fraser came off on 37 minutes to be replaced by Jordan Ibe. 

Arsenal were still forcing the pace with Sead Kolsinac smashing a shot against the top of the post, but the half time score remained 2-0. The rain was pouring down, and AFCB fans were getting soaked at the front. This was not turning out to be much fun.

More misery was expected in the second half for AFCB.

Second half
Simon Francis came on for Tyrone Mings as the second half started. Perhaps having the captain present on the field would galvanise AFCB? Well, it almost work as he got going on the right with Jordan Ibe putting in a cross that Defoe so nearly scored from, but his header came off the post and the rebound he put wide of the left post. 

It was the closest AFCB fans were to get to a goal. Danny Welbeck was only too pleased to show how it should be done, stretching AFCB's back line and peeling off to the left to fire a shot back across Begovic and making it 3-0 on 50 minutes. Gosling had lost the ball on half way to Ramsey and was punished for his mistake, but then no Bournemouth player could be proud of their performance.

The game was effectively over. Simon Francis was now on constant watch for Arsenal breakaways and Welbeck almost added to the score line with a delicate chip that went just wide of the left post with Begovic beaten.

Ramsey was thankfully subbed on 67 minutes and Francis Coquelin one his 100th Arsenal cap by coming on. Ibe had a chance to make Petr Cech do some work from a free kick he won but even that was poorly taken.

Bournemouth brought on Lys Mousset to replace Jermaine Defoe on 70 minutes. Arsenal took Lacazette off and sent on Olivier Giroud, while there were a few boos as Alexis Sanchez replaced Danny Welbeck on 75 minutes.

Ibe and Mousset were AFCB's most active players in the last third as the game drew old. Mousset was fighting hard and forced Cech to make a low save that got AFCB fans singing again. Ibe later put in a good deep cross from the right that Josh King headed on goal but Cech managed to tip it over. Even though Coquellin had to go off to reduce Arsenal to 10 men in the final minutes, it made little difference.

Daniels kept the crosses coming with Mousset finding them just out of his reach despite some gallant efforts to get on the end of them. Bournemouth though had come up short all game and 3-0 was the least that Arsenal probably deserved on the day.

Summary
Another pitiful performance by Eddie Howe's men. They inwardly degenerated when Arsenal got their first goal and found little momentum or sharpness in their play. If AFCB want to set out being hard to beat they have to do better at challenging players in their own box, and they can't allow a striker to receive a ball over 30 yards and be able able to turn and run at goal with no clear challenge going in. Bournemouth made their own problems and the lack of positivity in being able to build attacks form the back is becoming a big concern. The players themselves knew when they came over to the fans at the end of the game that this was an embarrassing defeat, because they had not shown enough about themselves. Defeat came too easily. They'll be made to earn their money in the next week, because the manner of this performance just wasn't good enough.

AFCB's players face up to the fans' disappointment.

Jordan Ibe stayed behind longest to give the crowd
an indication that it did matter to the players.

AFCB
Begovic, S Cook, Aké, Mings (Francis 46), A Smith, Daniels, Arter, Gosling, Fraser (Ibe 37), King (Mousset 70), Defoe

AFCB Subs
Boruc, Francis, L Cook, Ibe, Surman, Pugh, Mousset

AFCB Ratings
Begovic 3, S Cook 5, Aké 3, Mings 3 (Francis 4), A Smith 4, Daniels 5, Arter 4, Gosling 4, Fraser 4 (Ibe 4), King 3 (Mousset 4), Defoe 3

Referee watch: Anthony Taylor - an easy game for the ref who had no problem in keeping the game flowing 8/10

Arsenal
Cech, Koscielny, Monreal, Mustafi, Bellerin, Xhaka, Ramsey (Coquelin 67), Ozil, Kolasinac, Welbeck (Sanchez 75), Lacazette (Giroud 75)

Arsenal Subs
Aspin, Mertesacker, Coquelin, Giroud, Walcott, Iwobi

Is this a great time to play Arsenal?

Don't be fooled by all the tweets of Arsenal in crisis. Their players are likely to be hurting and anxious to rectify their poor form just like AFCB. The only good point about Arsenal's situation from a Bournemouth point of view is that if they do start badly against the Cherries their fans may start to get on their back and only increase the pressure on the Gunners.

Arsenal are not in the greatest of moments right
now with player dissatisfaction and poor form, but can AFCB take advantage?

Word is spreading that Arsenal will be strengthened for the Bournemouth match with the return of some key players for selection - Aaron Ramsey and Alex Awobi. While the two midfielders are two of many string candidates Wenger will have, they will be fresh and not tainted by the pummelling that Liverpool gave Arsenal and Wenger is likely to want to freshen up his side for Bournemouth's visit. Ramsey played in Wales narrow win over Austria at the weekend and he will be buzzing knowing that Wales still have a chance to get to the World Cup.

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The media frenzy over Alexis Sanchez is not going to die down now that he has not moved and people want to know how he will play when he has to put on his Arsenal shirt again. He could sulk but it is more than likely that he will put on a really good performance to get his frustrations out. This doesn't look great from Eddie Hoe's point of view. Sanchez is one of those players who has something extra and there is no easy way to box him in all games.

Arsenal also have Alexandre Lacazette who has already scored for his new club and was a surprise omission from the starting line up for the Liverpool game. But Olivier Giroud has a good record against the Cherries and Arsenal could play two up front against AFCB at home. It appears that Wenger doesn't know his best team or at least is willing to dabble a bit in his selections which may be unsettling for the players, but AFCB have to beat whoever is put in front of them.

As long as AFCB's players are up for the game and are looking forwards to playing Arsenal, I don't think AFCB can worry too much about how Arsenal might be psychologically. Arsenal might be in some distress, but you can say the same for AFCB. This match just may depend on who can cope with being under that pressure the better and playing away from home might add a bit of freedom to AFCB's play.

Possible AFCB team

3-4-1-1 Begovic (GK), S Cook (CD), Aké (CD), Mings (CD), A Smith (RW),
Gosling (CM), Arter (CM), Surman (CM), Daniels (LW), King (CM/FW), Defoe (FW)

Subs
Boruc (GK), Francis (CD), B Smith (LD), Pugh (LW/RW), Fraser (LW/RW), Mousset (FW),
Afobe (FW)

Rival Lines: "I have my doubts we'll see that Alexis again in an Arsenal shirt"

Rival Lines
Match Preview: Arsenal v AFCB
Blogger Interview: The Daily Cannon
Twitter @DailyCannon

With Arsenal fans still trying to figure out what is happening with their team, after last weekend, and whether their manager has done in enough over the summer to improve the side, let alone if Alexis Sanchez will be running on empty, we needed to find some answers. Who best to ask? Well we talked to one of the writers writers at the Daily Cannon for their opinion on Arsenal's summer transfers and start to the season. These are Jamie Einchcombe's thoughts.

CC: What did you make of transfer deadline day for Arsenal - do things look as bad as Ian Wright would suggest?
DC: Deadline day was disappointing. I would have liked to see a midfielder arrive more than anything. However, I don't think things are quite as bad as some make out.

We did sign two good players who improve the squad, and whether by design or accident we kept our best player. We could have done more, but it wasn't a disaster, either.

CC: The newspapers had some scary headlines over the big defeat at Liverpool, like 'an embarrassing shambles', but was the reaction a bit overboard just three games into a new season?

DC: I don't think the reaction was overboard. Talk of a crisis will always sound hollow and cliché, but people are right to be concerned about the manner of the defeat. It's not the first big game Arsenal have lost in such a way and unfortunately it probably won't be the last.

Fortunately, there's plenty of time to get our act together. We've got a talented squad and hopefully once things have calmed down everyone can focus on improving. It wasn't that long ago we were beating City and Chelsea in the FA Cup with the same players, so the team is certainly capable of more than what we're seeing.

CC: Has Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made the right choice to leave Arsenal now?

I'd say so. It was clear things were getting a bit stale for him at the club. Arsene Wenger wasn't going to play him as a midfielder like he wanted, nor was he progressing under the manager as much as he would have expected.

DC: Alexis Sanchez is going to be disappointed in not getting his move to Man City, but are you pleased you keep him until at least January even if he might go on a free next summer?

I have mixed feelings about Alexis. A fully committed Alexis is one of the best players around and we need him if we want to get anywhere this season. If that meant turning down £60m then so be it.

However, I have doubts we'll see that Alexis again in an Arsenal shirt, and worry about what effect that might have on the team. At the very least, I'm pleased we didn't sell him without signing a replacement.

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CC: Arsenal seem not to worry about selling players to rivals, but is this another failing of their transfer policy?

DC: It's certainly an issue. The club end up forced into that position more times than they should be. Players are being lured by more attractive projects elsewhere and the club isn't doing enough to convince them that this is the place to be.

CC: Who would you like to replace Arsene Wenger when that day eventually comes?

DC: I really like Leonardo Jardim at Monaco. He's proven to be a very adaptable coach, able to change his approach to suit the players he has.

His Monaco side were very defensive when they knocked us out the Champions League in 2015 but last season they were the most prolific team in Europe with some exciting young players. I'd love to see that at Arsenal again.

CC: What player injuries have Arsenal currently got?

DC: There's a doubt over Alexis' ankle, which he damaged on international duty. Alex Iwobi picked up a muscle injury before the Liverpool game and missed Nigeria's game. Santi Cazorla is still out; we don't know when he'll be back.

CC: If Arsenal don't beat Bournemouth would that be a crisis?

DC: Three defeats in a row is awful for Arsenal but never a crisis. However, if Arsenal don't show signs of improvement there'll be plenty to worry about.

CC: How do you expect Arsenal to line up against the Cherries?

DC: I expect Hector Bellerin will return to right back and Sead Kolasinac to come back into the defence. Koscielny will play, but who will partner him is anyone's guess.

Xhaka and Ramsey will probably play in the middle again, with Ozil and Lacazette ahead of them. If Alexis is able to play, Danny Welbeck will likely play.

CC: Well that was a clear insight into how Jamie is feeling about his beloved team going into the match with Bournemouth – a big thanks to him. I can only hope that Sanchez needs more time to reflect on things, as he is undoubtedly one of the best players in the Premier League and Bournemouth could do with him having a rest this weekend. Jamie is right in that Arsenal are packed with star players who have not suddenly forgotten how to play, especially at home.

We could even see Gareth Southgate at this game if he is keen to see Jermain Defoe and Danny Welbeck, as these players are fighting over a place in the England World Cup squad. Defoe needs to get scoring and he'll be disappointed he didn't get a go last week, while Welbeck will want to show he should be in the next England squad.

AFCB can't expect anything less than an Arsenal side that is determined to put their bad results behind them. What I'd like to see though is that AFCB have become a better defensive team and that they can become more resilient against the top sides, like they were against Man City. A clean sheet against Arsenal would be a great day out - UTCIAD!

In other news, Charlie Daniels has signed a three-year extension with AFCB.