Written by billythekid
The Cherries are unbeaten in their last three games with the latest being a 2-2 draw against West Ham at Dean Court, they will try and make that four on Sunday. The next game looks to be a formidable task when they take on another London side, this time away against Arsenal at a ground we have never picked a point up at in our four league encounters. We had never won away at Southampton up until last month (but have drawn there). So maybe…….?
In the Summer Arsenal paid a club-record £72 million for Lille winger Nicolas Pepe. They also signed David Luiz from Chelsea, the centre back joined for a fee of £8 million. A player that had been linked with AFCB, left-back Kieran Tierney from Chelsea, has joined Arsenal for £25 million. Another centre back who will join Arsenal is William Saliba from Saint-Etienne, but the 18-year-old is staying in France for a season on loan for his former club. Midfield player Gabriel Martinelli has signed from Brazilian football club Ituano Futebal Clube for an undisclosed fee. Dani Ceballos has come in on loan, the midfield player joins from Real Madrid.
Manager Unai Emery’s team have had a better start than the first two games of last season where they lost their opening two games but then went on to win their next seven league games. This season in their seven games they have only lost once and that was away against the leaders Liverpool 3-1 who have won every game. The games they have won were the first game of the season away at Newcastle 0-1, then two games at home against Burnley 2-1 and Aston Villa 3-2. They have drawn three times, at home against North London rivals Tottenham 2-2, away at Watford 2-2. The most recent game was away against Manchester United 1-1. Arsenal are in 4th place in the Premier League with 12 points, 4 places and 1 point above the Cherries. AFCB have won 2 and lost 1 of their away games so far.
When AFCB have visited the Arsenal ground, they have always come up against a certain Arsenal player in top form. Main ones that come to mind are Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, plus others including a brace from Danny Welbeck (Sanchez & Welbeck no longer at Arsenal). The last visit in February this year will be one the manager and players will want to forget about, beaten 5-1, this was a month where AFCB only picked up 1 point in their four games. In our visit to London to play Arsenal, AFCB have lost all 4, conceding 13 goals and scoring 2. In all competitions, AFCB have W 1, D 1, L 7.
Arsenal Team News
Alexandre Lacazette has been out with an ankle injury, his expected return is some time this month.
Emile Smith Rowe was substituted after a clash of heads against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup.
Arsenal Player To Watch
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scoring goals again this season. Has scored in every league game bar the game against the leaders Liverpool, 7 in total so far. He scored in both our games against Arsenal last season.
AFCB Team News
Ryan Fraser should be available for selection after having to withdraw with illness before the West Ham game. No other injury news yet.
AFCB Player To Watch
Be interesting to see if Callum Wilson can score in five games in a row. He seems to have the Midas touch at the moment!
The referee is Martin Atkinson who we had away at Aston Villa.
Your say…
Waz afcb wrote…
I think all the referees are pretty incompetent to be honest, not sure it matters who we get. In terms of the team an interesting selection dilemma for Eddie Howe, in my opinion, he can’t use the 4-4-1-1 here. It’s been proven in the past that away to the big teams this does not work, we tend to get torn apart. I imagine he will go a three at the back with Simon Francis as the third defender but hope he opts for a midfield three with Lewis Cook. Who would miss out is an interesting one too, I’d like to see him go Dominic Solanke and Joshua King wide of Callum Wilson. Meaning Harry Wilson to drop out. Or maybe he will opt for a more natural wide player and pace on the counter in Ryan Fraser? Will be interesting whatever, really think we have a chance in this one. – Join the conversation, click here.
