Arsene Wenger says he’s glad Jack Wilshere can’t play for Bournemouth against Arsenal this evening, but that Eddie Howe’s side still have plenty of quality to contend with.
Premier League rules preclude loan players facing their parent clubs, so Wilshere has to sit this one out, but with the Gunners facing two games in a little over 48 hours, the Arsenal manager knows it’ll be a real test of his team’s mettle.
The hosts gave Arsenal a bit of a scare at the Emirates at the end of November, former youth product Benik Afobe forcing Petr Cech into a good save to keep the scoreline at 2-1, and the third goal of the 3-1 win wasn’t scored until the 90th minute.
It’s left Wenger wary of what lies ahead tonight due to their quality and the circumstances and scheduling of the game.
“We go to a difficult place, Bournemouth,” he said. “The good news is Jack Wilshere will not play but there are still enough good players to give any team problems.
“What’s happening in this league is all the big teams win against the smaller teams. Since November it is like that.
“The only moment where teams drop points is when they play against each other but that can change.”
And the Frenchman knows how important it is to take the maximum from tonight’s fixture.
“Chelsea wins every single game, they are comfortable in front,” he said. “We have to hang on and try to win and hope results turn in our favour. We had an exceptional run and in four games we lose two games.
“I hope it’s out of our system. But every game is so difficult.”
Whatever the case it is still Bournemouth. So Fuck it lets just go over there and give them a thumping
In Coquelin, Ox, Mustafi, Gibbs, Ramsey we could have 5 fresh faces with no drop in the teams quality. Of our potential starting XI only Alexis & Koscielny have played every game. We’re also likely to change 10 or maybe all 11 players for Preston so hopefully we’ll play with maximum intensity & wrap up the game by half time.
And ofcourse Özil too…
Kosielney didn’t play against Liverpool in the first game
COYG…. We can do this guys….
bournemouth are not a team that sits and park the bus so we will have our chances. we just need to be sharp in front of goal so that we bury the few chances we will have
And for sure that’s how it turned out last night.
No reason to loose to Bournemouth but they have some quality
I’d expect Ox and Le Coq to start tonight. Not sure if Theo or Ozil can play but they’d be handy if fit. Anyways, take 1-0 deflected in off the ref’s arse tonight. COYG!
The ref is Michael Oliver and he’s one of the less ‘arse like’ refs (most of them are arses but a few like Mike Dean are 100% cunts!).
At least it is finally being universally recognised that Mike Dean is a cunt. Pretty much every pundit now thinks he’s a shit ref who’s on a power trip. Even Lineker having a blatant dig on MOTD yesterday.
What about Lucas? I’d probably have him in front of Ox
“The only moment where teams drop points is when they play against each other but that can change.”
Or when teams like Liverpool allow Sunderland 2 penalties…
Could have been three penaltie if the ref hadn’t played mother.
Or when we smashed the chavski cunt 3-0!
Thank God it is not that cunt arrogant Dean is with the whistle tonight. That fucker showed United an escape route last night. Back to business, the boys have to be serious and never underestimate Bournemouth tonight. Anything other than a win tonight is Wenger’s responsibility. He has to figure out a way to win the game. I don’ t want to hear about being tired or playing too many games. Those are old cliches. I love what Tony Pulis said last night. These boys are paid millions and shouldn’t be complaining of tiredness. Their parents and grand parents were… Read more »
Old cliches? You mean like ‘back to business, the boys have to be serious and never underestimate Bournemouth tonight’, and ‘Anything other than a win tonight is Wenger’s responsibility’, and ‘He has to figure out a way to win the game’? I think football players are overpaid, but I am fairly sure that tiredness has nothing to do with how much someone gets paid. Then again, I can understand your confusion since anyone who loves ANYTHING Pulis has to say must be confused. 🙂 This will be a tough game against Bournemouth and hopefully we play to our potential, in… Read more »
All the heroics and scorpion kick will be for nought and wasted if we do not get the 3 points tonight. We have to show the hunger to destroy teams. Still feel we tend to be in danger of letting teams off too much and taking the foot off the pedal. Last game, we could have been punished minutes 60-70 but for some fine saves by Cech. All that pandamonium to me was unnecessary. Wenger has got to be wary of that time frame to switch maybe one player out and keep things ticking/fresh. We have the options now so… Read more »
Its called in game management.
Wenger is a superb builder of teams but sometimes, his in game management can be rather suspect.
This is the added edge we need now. Hope he gets it right, don’t want to be riding on luck too much.
God, I love Jack!!