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AFC Bournemouth 1 Arsenal 2 | Talking Points

Arsenal kept the pressure on their top four rivals with a narrow win to condemn Bournemouth to a third 2-1 defeat in a row.

The Gunners were without rejuvenated striker Lacazette with a slight groin niggle and left Mesut Ozil on the bench as Emery moved to a three at the back with wing backs, whilst Bournemouth welcomed back striker Josh King as the Norwegian returning from injury.

Arsenal took the lead on the half-hour mark due to an own goal that would be prime material for an “Own goals and gaffes” Christmas video – if such things still existed. Saed Kolasinac, playing in the left wing back role, cut back a cross which Jefferson Lerma diligently tracked back and attempted to cut out. Unfortunately he managed to fire a low drive into his own goal from the edge of the area. Bournemouth recovered with a lovely team goal as Callum Wilson fed David Brookes whose deft lay-off allowed Josh King to curl into the top corner on the stroke of halftime.

Arsenal snatched the three points halfway through the second half as Aubameyang prodded home another Kolasinac cross leaving Bournemouth to rue an incorrectly disallowed Brookes goal whilst Lerma hit the woodwork late on with a thunderous long-range strike.

Aubameyang the flat track bully

In truth, Aubameyang was pretty ordinary all afternoon but showed a spark as the ball was rolled into the six yard box to prod a winner past Asmir Begovic. That goal took the Gabon international level with Sergio Aguero at the top of the Golden Boot charts.

It also took Aubameyang to 18 goals in 19 Premier League games against the bottom 14 but still goalless in seven games against the traditional top six. Arsenal now face back to back games against Tottenham and Manchester United, and the Gunners could do with Aubameyang showing his lethal qualities in the next week if Emery’s side are to sustain a top-four challenge.

Holding and Sokratis hold the back five together.

With a new wing backs system suiting both Bellerin and Kolasinac’s attacking tendencies, the Arsenal three central defenders needed to be at their best.

When Mustafi joined the club his partnership with Koscielny looked to be one of the best in the league. Sunday showed how things have changed, not for the first time this season Mustafi looked a liability and it was again down to the solid consistency of Sokratis and the youthful calmness of Rob Holding to guide Arsenal home.

If a return to a back four is the favoured system for Emery he has a tough decision to make because on current form neither Koscielny nor Mustafi are worthy of a place over the less renowned Sokratis and Holding.



Lucas Torreira – better late than never

Arsene Wenger seemingly spent over a decade finding a high quality all round midfielder at the end of his tortured reign, yet Unai Emery seems to have solved that problem with one signing.

The Uruguayan midfielder is a throwback to the pre-Makelele era when midfielders could do a bit of everything. Torreira made key tackles and has a range of passing that both keeps the ball ticking over and helps to penetrate through the defensive lines. Even Granit Xhaka now looks a proper midfielder and both Emery and Torreira deserve credit for creating a context for that to be possible.

V A R you serious?

Another week in the Premier League another crucial mistake. David Brookes early goal was incorrectly ruled out for offside and as such the chance for Bournemouth to take an early lead was gone. It remains baffling that in an era when clubs can pay Richard Scudamore £250,000 bonus each they are still so happy to play fast and loose with crucial incorrect decisions. Especially after a relatively successful VAR World Cup campaign. Roll on 2019.

Howe long until Eddie gets a “big” job?

Even despite a third narrow loss on the bounce, Bournemouth have had a terrific start to the season. Like the home defeat to Manchester United, Bournemouth were unlucky to lose and the fact Howe has done this on a relatively small budget and whilst playing attractive, progressive football is hardly a secret. So how long is it until he is poached by a big club? And more pertinently how long until Howe himself wants to test himself at a higher level?

With the England job looking off limits for now perhaps Manchester United could hold the key

Not that Manchester United would have the wit, imagination or daring to appoint Howe themselves but rather they may appoint Pochettino leaving Tottenham to appoint Howe whose style of play, personality and ability to work in a smaller budget could suit Daniel Levy.

In the meantime, Howe and Bournemouth look content in slowly becoming everyone’s second team.

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