AFC Bournemouth travelled to the Emirates to take on Arsenal on Wednesday night.
A trip to one of the top six midweek is never an easy trip, but when every part of your squad has been decimated and forced into changes, the prospect of getting anything diminishes further.
From back to front, AFC Bournemouth boss Howe has been forced into changes this season.
Asmir Begovic, first choice goalkeeper for the past two seasons has been dropped in recent months due to poor form, in stepped Artur Boruc.
In defence, captain Simon Francis, Steve Cook and Charlie Daniels were all out, three of the back four mainstays that have been part of the clubs rise from the third tier of English football to the Premier League.
In midfield, record signing Jefferson Lerma was suspended, England Under 20’s World Cup-winning captain Lewis Cook is injured and creative winger Junior Stanislas was also sidelined.
Up front and leading scorer and England international Callum Wilson is out, as is January signing Dom Solanke.
But whilst the list of excuses was laid out, Howe isn’t one for hiding behind excuses and he was pretty scathing in his analysis of the 5-1 defeat to Arsenal.
AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe told afcb.co.uk…
“…that mindset takes away ownership of what we delivered with our own team.
“They may have played well but our perspective is clear that we can do so much better and are capable of much more than that.
“We will not kid ourselves and our analysis has to be that it was not acceptable…”
“…We have to be better at delivering what we’re trying to do. We started poorly and you can’t start games in that manner against anyone.
“The ownership is fully on us, the style of play is not the issue it’s a combination of different things.
Your say…
wimborne cherries wrote…
Eddie and the management need to take a long look at themselves now. We have been making the same mistakes for 4 years now and every player we seem to buy it’s the same, no matter how good they are.
Think it’s clear to see some help is needed in the coaching department, especially regards defensive positioning and general mindset. On paper that back 4 should not be conceding so many goals. Expect more of the same Saturday but in my opinion, as previously said, our season starts again at Huddersfield!
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