AFCB Vital Match Reports

AFCB v Arsenal – Highlights & Reaction

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AFC Bournemouth returned to Dean Court following a 4-0 defeat away to Premier League champions Manchester City on Saturday. However, the fixture list wasn’t set to ease any time soon with the visit of Arsenal, one of the in-form teams in the whole country (and then it’s Liverpool away next week).

AFC Bournemouth head coach Scott Parker continued without last season’s 30-goal scorer Dominic Solanke with an ankle injury, however, Jordan Zemura did return following a positive covid-19 result.

Marcos Senesi made his first start for Cherries following his transfer from Feyenoord, he stepped into the back three alongside Lloyd Kelly and Chris Mepham, enabling Jefferson Lerma to advance into a more familiar midfield role.

Ben Pearson continued to keep his place in the heart of the Cherries midfield ahead of Lewis Cook.

The first half did not see the Cherries return to the same levels of performance as we saw previously against Aston Villa and the second half saw Parker run the changes both in personnel and system. However, after being two goals down so early, the game was all but decided by then regardless.

Speaking after the match to Sky Sports, Parker said…

“The first half was really unacceptable from us in many ways. We needed to have a bit of humility about us in terms of understanding the dynamics of the game and what we were up against. In terms of our general body language and the general dynamics of what we needed to bring, I thought we were nowhere near it.

“There’s no disgrace in losing to Arsenal in that sense but what is not acceptable is the first half and how we went about it. Second half, there was a reaction but to come out like we did in the first half is not enough and, really, we need to understand that and the players will understand that.

“I didn’t expect to see in the first half what I saw. I expected them to show a certain ingredient that we didn’t show. It was far too easy in terms of recovery runs, getting back into shape, understanding the quality of what we’re playing against and how the game might look. There’s some big learning to do regarding this game.”

Man of the match against Arsenal

Travers

Travers

Kelly

Kelly

Smith

Smith

Mepham

Mepham

L. Cook

L. Cook

Lerma

Lerma

Someone else

Someone else

Written by northstandmark

Arsenal obviously better in most departments, but it’s the first goal that really annoys me. Such a blatant case of double standards from the ref given the foul he gave on Moore not 90 seconds earlier.

After that, there’s likely only one outcome. The second half was much better but the damage was done.

Kelly not at his best today, nor Lerma. When two of your usually better defensive players are having an off day you’re always likely to concede against a side of their quality.

hba1 added…

5 at the back is a disaster for AFCB. We looked so much better in the second half. The problem is Parker is stubborn, apparently, he persisted with the 5 at the back format at Fulham which resulted in relegation and only 9 goals scored at home all season.

True we have played 2 of the top 6 with another next weekend but time to regroup take something from the second-half performance and formation and move on.

That naff jumper again and I noticed when he subbed Billing he wasn’t there to shake his hand he had his back to him taking a drink. Poor man management.

Neil Dawson said…

We were always going to lose today. Arsenal are a league on from when we last played them. The result is nothing to be ashamed of. The concern is the philosophy of our football.

Iā€™d hoped Parker had learnt from his disastrous last tilt at this league but clearly early evidence would suggest he hasnā€™t. If you play a flat-back five and two defensive non-passing midfielders you wonā€™t get out your half much. You are then relying on giving decent attacking talent 90 minutes in and around your box and hoping you can keep them out or they miss. Both are unlikely scenarios but if you have our back five highly unlikely. The best way to keep a side out is to keep them away from your box more as we found out in the second half.

There is also, in my opinion, a responsibility to entertain. I know this is not a totally shared view on here. I was bored senseless for the first 45 mins.

The second half was better because we had a higher line, more players up the pitch and a playmaker on in midfield to get the ball to them. We still lost that half 1-0 but it was more entertaining and a better defensive display ironically. Scott take note (he wonā€™t btw).

Players wise. The good
Moore battled well and never stopped.
Cook looked the only player on par with opposition skill levels.
Smith tried hard and had moments
I give him a hard time but credit to Christie who made things happen

Players wise. The bad.
Lermaā€¦ controversial but I thought his arrival was the start of our demise in the PL. Great in the championship. Not technical enough for a modern midfield but could be an excellent centre-back.
Billingā€¦. Weak and where was he playing?
Senessiā€¦. I read an interesting article about how while Dutch players can be brilliant in the PL if they come from a league that isnā€™t the Dutch league itā€™s very rarely the case if they come from the Dutch league. Cruelly christened Carlos Broadhurst in our row but too early to judge.
Kellyā€¦ passing was woeful.
Pearsonā€¦. A level beyond him.

We have a Liverpool experience next up. Expect the world’s most defensive formation again. Expect a comfortable beating again. Again, nothing wrong with a poor result up there itā€™s a different league. Then the real league starts for a bit. Hopefully with the board having pulled their fingers out of their overpaid bums and hopefully with Parker going for the second half of today’s outlook and formation and not the first half which id gladly not go then watch again.

Monmouthred wrote…

Well, that was a reality check.

I think the first 45 mins were the worst we have ever produced in our PL stints.

I am not overly optimistic about the improvement in the second half as Arsenal did what they needed to in all honesty. As others have said at least we looked to have some balance and desire though.

I am much more concerned about Parker and his comments. He continually talked about much higher quality, and yet how disappointed he was with the collective ‘humility’. He set them up, and it is his negative defeatist narrative that is seeping through.

As it happens, I think we are unfortunate to be playing the likely top 3, in the first 4 games, but so are Palace who have identical games.

We sure as hell won’t get a point at Liverpool like they did.

Not too bothered about Liverpool though, but I have a horrible feeling we’ll see a repeat of yesterday v Wolves and then at Forest. If we do then we’ll know we are in trouble. I suspect a lot of us already sense it.

Parker is not Eddie. Unfortunately. – Join the conversation, click here.

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