Match Day Bournemouth v Arsenal, Tuesday 3rd January 19:45

[SALTIRE]

Match chat.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Quite a change of pace here, from beating Swansea comfortably without getting near top gear, to playing Arsenal a side who with the best will in the world from us probably do likewise to us.

Wilshere will obviously be ineligible - that's going to hurt us. He's been a cut above for 90 minutes week in week out. We don't have an obvious replacement to play number 10, so either Howe goes with 3 defensive midfielders (not his style) or we shoehorn someone else in there like Ibe or King. Ex Arsenal man Afobe is playing quite well at the moment, if a bit wasteful with chances, but he might be a decent bet if we are to score.

I hope we see another side from Howe that puts players more or less in their correct positions (the above issue notwithstanding). We look far more balanced when we keep it simple.

 

[smat]

Bit cross that Bournemouth got an extra day's rest. Just over 48 hours for us between Palace and Bournemouth.

 

[PDS]

^^ Arsenal have a much, much bigger squad than us so will probably cope. But the scheduling does seem silly this year.

We always lose to Arsenal by 2 goals. Our performance at the Emirates was good, and we were comfortable until a ridiculous mistake. It sounds simple but things like that are so often our undoing, and once you give Arsenal the lead they have the quality to pick you off at ease.

Not sure if post-injury Stanislas can start again in such a short turnaround, after his goal at the weekend I'd expect King to start, his pace and aggression could be huge for us on the counter; Afobe will no doubt be fired up, hopefully his goal on Saturday has helped his confidence.

 

[Benji]

Xhakastrophe

 

[PDS]

Well this isn't too bad so far....

 

[Benji]

Bournemouth have totally got Arsenal's number today. How often do Arsenal come out second half and come back to win? Can't be that often, can it?

 

[SALTIRE]

Bournemouth have totally got Arsenal's number today. How often do Arsenal come out second half and come back to win? Can't be that often, can it?

Well would you be inspired by a Wenger half-time team talk?

 

[smat]

I saw some very positive signs between about the 39th and 41st minute.

 

[Stevencc]

Arsenal fans "Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo."

Man like Robbie (trying his best to suppress a smile) "Things are gonna kick off tonight."

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Well being a Bournemouth fan gets more surreal by the week. Playing Arsenal with no fear, 2-0 and should be 3-0 up at half time. Ryan Fraser giving Bellerin all sorts of problems.

Have to think Arsenal will come tearing at us second half. The one genuine chance they created that half and Iwobe really should have scored it. They will create plenty more I'm sure.

But on the counter, we have Arsenal worried...

Come on Bournemouth, a big shift here and who knows..

 

[PDS]

Utterly sumptuous first half from us. Not sure if everyone can keep those energy levels up for 90 minutes, but it's been seriously impressive.

Some smart game management needed for the inevitable Arsenal attacks now

 

[SALTIRE]

Arsenal fans "Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo."

Man like Robbie (trying his best to suppress a smile) "Things are gonna kick off tonight."

 

[SALTIRE]

Woot, 3 - 0 and ArsenalFanTV is gonna be great!!!

 

[Stevencc]

That extra day's rest was MASSIVE.

Isn't that right, Smat?

 

[SALTIRE]

 

[Blitzballer]

Sanchez

 

[Stevencc]

Comeback on...

 

[Super_horns]

Well this is a chance for Arsenal.

2 footed tackle did for Francis but maybe looked worse than it was.

 

[smat]

Great game. Bournemouth are really good.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Is it possible to be immensely proud, fucking gutted and fucking angry at the same time?

Arsenal come to us and scramble a late equaliser with a shity tap in, WTF is Boruc playing at. Incredible.

But in truth it turned when Fraser was hacked off. We lost our outlet and our energy. What a player Fraser is becoming. After that our shape and hassling went to pot and Arsenal had increasing amounts of time on the ball.

That said, Gosling had an absolutely routine chance to make it 4-2. Needs to be burying those. And what was our earlier goal disallowed for?

Didn't get a very good look at the straight red, I'll need to see that again, although a bloke next to me called it as red when it happened.

What a night. Bournemouth are such a crazy side to love. When it clicks, we make Arsenal look shite. But when the tables turn we haven't got the muscle to see it out.

We really are a mini Arsenal! There was actually an Arsenal fan sat in front of me in the home end. He disappeared at half time. What a twat.

What a strange night.

 

[Liam_SWFC]

Bournemouth were brilliant there credit to them, must be gutted. Great fight back from Arsenal though showed a lot of character, but that first 70 minutes is exactly why they won't be challenging for the title this season. Soft as shit.

 

[smat]

And what was our earlier goal disallowed for?

Handball for the deflection on its way to the goal (it was going wide). I thought it was harsh - Arter wellied it at whoever it was from a few yards away. But the Sky commentators both agreed it was a good call. I'm unconvinced.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Just seen the straight red card on the tele beneath the stand. What the actual fuck is that for. Just make the game non contact and have done with it. It's neither excessive force nor endangering the opponent.

 

[SALTIRE]

Wenger will try and spin this to look like Arsenal should've won by ten goals.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Howe straight out saying we'll appeal the red.

Doesn't change the fact that we have ourselves to blame mind, it shouldn't have come to that.

 

[PDS]

Bit of a mix of emotions.

We were fucking fantastic for so long. And this wasn't like when Allardyce's Bolton used to beat Arsenal, we not only got in their faces but we completely and utterly outplayed and outpassed them.

However the intensity we were going at really took its toll, but you feel if King and then Fraser (who made Bellerin look like a non-league full back) hadn't been injured, you have to feel we would have on due to our threat on the counter and our pressing.

As it was we sat too deep and Giroud/Sanchez will do that to you. It's hard to take... I would have taken a draw before the game but you can't not be gutted in these circumstances.

Gilt-edge chance for Gosling to make it 4-2 as well which would have capped an immense passing move. He was brilliant but that's a game changer right there.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Fraser mugging off Bellerin time and again was a joy to watch. If he can work on the consistency and bring the Liverpool / tonight form in more often, he's going to develop into a heck of a player. Been here years but still only 22.

Need to look at the positives otherwise I'd kick the proverbial cat.

 

[Nilsson]

Maybe this Howe would be the perfect Wenger replacement afterall. What an absolute bottle job that was.

 

[SALTIRE]