AFC Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter insists that he isn’t making any demands to AFC Bournemouth or Cherries manager Eddie Howe.
Following the pre-season friendly with Spanish La Liga side Real Betis, many Cherries fans have wondered if they had seen Harry Arter in an AFC Bournemouth shirt for the last time.
Arter had made it clear in a previous interview that he doesn’t want to waste his time not playing, following a season where he played just 962 Premier League minutes in comparison to the 2,959 minutes the season before.
His comments stoked the media into linking him with a number of clubs including Cardiff City, Newcastle United, Stoke City and Middlesbrough.
With the transfer deadline window closing at 5 pm, Arter will undoubtedly be linked with other clubs until the deadline passes.
But Arter himself appears content to stay, as long as he remains in AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe’s plans.
Arter told the Daily Echo…
“I feel very fit and mentally, most importantly, ready for the season, My only focus is on playing every week and giving myself the opportunity.
“I’m not demanding or saying I want guaranteed first-team football. I just want to get myself in the team and, hopefully, keep myself in it.
“I have worked so hard. As soon as the season finished, I was running and came back as fit as I think I ever have for Bournemouth.
“I’m sure that has been noted by the sports scientist staff and the manager. I’m just working hard to make sure I’m playing football week in, week out.”
Your say…
northstandmark wrote…
Arter is and always will be a giant of our history. Our 2-0 win over Southampton is a top Arter performance that sticks in my mind. Dominated Wanyama that night.
The question is how long do we cling onto that Arter. It’s been the better part of 2 years since we’ve seen him on form. Since then we’ve had an at best anonymous and at worst insipid and disinterested Arter. There have been various legends in recent years given far less patience before being moved on. Indeed the way Arter was moping around last season suggested he himself wanted away (selling up his business down here you’ll remember).
Now I would argue Arter deserves more time than those other legends. A) because he has shown us flashes of real Premier League quality in our first season or so up here, B) what with his personal circumstances. C) because his brand of aggressive play is something we otherwise lack. And if that interview with the Daily Echo is anything to go by then Arter sounds in a better frame of mind to give it another go (although Betis wasn’t the most inspiring start).
The last 2 years call Eddie totally justified in firstly promoting Cook, Surman and Gosling all above Arter, they’ve simply been consistently better in their various skill-sets for 2 years. And secondly bringing in another central midfielder this summer (and I’ve bloody glad he has done so) bringing it seems Lerma’s own brand of aggression to our party.
Perhaps Lerma’s addition will be the final push to get Arter back into the full fighting spirit? It surely signals now or never for Arter in terms of regaining a current and future place in the side. But as said, his place in the all-time legends is already long since secured. – Join the conversation, click here.
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