Bournemouth vs Arsenal

Fascinating team today:

Leno; Sokratis, Mustafi, Holding; Bellerin, Torreira, XHAKA, Kolasinac; Mkhitaryan, Iwobi; Aubameyang

Subs: Cech, Maitland-Niles, Elneny, Ramsey, Guendouzi, Ozil, Nketiah

We've basically benched Ozil for an extra centre back.

Lacazette has a groin problem.

Balanced team. Will win this easily.

I honestly doubt we will win with that team, but hopefully we can do it.

Probably not that much. He might have simply been ill, as he tends to be during the season. Or maybe he just wasn't a fit for this type of game.

If it was anything more, he wouldn't have been in the squad altogether.

Anyway, shit first half, much better second half, though not without some scares. Kolasinac is always a threat going forward, but equally a threat to our defensive solidity. Mkhitaryan is in horrific form. The formation change didn't work all that well, assuming our goal was to keep Bournemouth quiet.

Emery continues to impress with his tweaks during the game. He had us pushing up higher and getting the centre backs in Bournemouth's half during the second half. It penned Bournemouth in and gave us more control over proceedings (also helped by Bournemouth shifting formation and handing us some of the initiative).

A good three points given Bournemouth's start to the season. Now we we have Spurs and United to come. Need the same type of performance as against Liverpool for those.

It means that Emery plays no favourites and will bench anyone if he thinks someone else can do a better job on the day.

I expect Özil to return for Mkhitaryan vs Tottenham.

Sina wrote:Wolves H  Sun Nov 11 -  16:30 D

Bournemouth A  Sun Nov 25 - 13:30 W
FC Vorskla A  Thu Nov 29 - 17:55
Tottenham H  Sun Dec 2 - 14:05
Manchester United A Wed Dec 5 - 20:00
Huddersfield H Sat Dec 8 - 15:00

EUROPA LEAGUE for once giving us advantage since we can rest everyone

Mike Dean has been appointed referee for Arsenal vs. Tottenham on Sunday

We haven't lost since September 2015 with Dean in charge.

Won our last three NLDs with him as ref.

misleading stat
dropping points vs eventually relegated team is as bad as a defeat
he can always bleep things with his decisions