CHERRY PICKED
RICE INSPIRED GUNNERS SECURE HUGE THREE POINTS ON SOUTH COAST
Have you ever heard that saying at this time of year 'Out with the old and in with the new"? Well, we Arsenal fans can ignore it.
Different year, same kind of ending. A slender one-goal lead going into the last fifteen minutes of a match. Cue heart-clutching and nail-biting, accompanied by shouts of "GET IT OUT" any time Bournemouth chucked a fighting chance ball into our box.
OPENING THOUGHTS
To be fair, last night was a different kind of game. Our nail-biters recently have been because we missed a ton of chances, then conceded the first time our opponents managed to map-read their way past the halfway line.
The Bournemouth game was different. I tweeted post-match that they are probably the best side we have faced all season.
They are such a strange team. No wins in eleven, lying fifteenth, yet I genuinely believe they are the best opponent I've seen so far.
Another weird point is their manager, Iraola. It's not typical for a team languishing just above the relegation zone that their manager is talked about as 'elite', but he just may well be.
With the imminent sale of Semenyo, he might think he has taken The Cherries as far as he can. It will be fascinating to see what kind of job he does with 'bigger' and 'better' players given the opportunity, and trust me, he'll get it.
LINEUPS
Arteta surprised us with some rotation. I certainly didn't see it coming in such a tricky fixture.
Both wide players were changed with Martinelli for Trossard and Madueke for Saka. Declan Rice surprisingly returned from his gammy knee (did he ever), to replace Merino. The rest of the starting side from Villa remained.
One notable omission from the bench was Kai the Guy due to 'managing his minutes'. A little weird considering he hasn't played any since day one, and the best way to get back to fitness is to play.
Maybe the slog to get himself fit enough for a return had taken its toll, and he hit a wall. That or he's had another setback, and Arteta didn't want to say. Either way, he was missing again.
I did notice young Nwaneri still didn't make the squad despite Kai's absence. I can only see a loan for him this month for the rest of the season. He needs to play. I cannot see him being satisfied with run-outs in the FA Cup. What if Portsmouth knock us out? Is that his season done?
I know we won't go through the rest of the season injury-free, but even when he was on the bench, he didn't see any game time. If Eze hasn't had one second of action in the last four games, what chance does Ethan have?
With the return of Kai (again), Mosquera and Calafiori, that's another three people to fight with. A fight he is already losing. My advice? Go somewhere like Bournemouth on loan, get some game time and smash it.
Anyone else worried we are mishandling him and are going to fumble him away? I certainly hope not. I really believe he is a super talent.
THE GAME
The match itself was a close, hard-fought affair.
Yes, Bournemouth were excellent, but their goals came from a Gabriel of Old brain melt that led to a tap-in to an empty net for Evanilson only ten minutes in and a wonder strike from Junior Kroupi with fifteen minutes left, which made for a nervy ending.
In between, it was pretty even, with us just about shading it. After Gabriel had made amends with the equaliser six minutes after his error, we scored a couple of well-worked goals, with Declan Rice on the end of both, for the first two-goal game of his league career in 296 outings.
In summary, they played well, scored two, and we played slightly better, scoring three. The result seemed about right.
WHAT IT MEANS
We are now six points clear of Villa, who coasted past Forest, and seven ahead of City, who kick off in a couple of hours of me typing this.
It was another game we avenged from last season, turning a defeat into a win. The Redemption Tour continues to roll on and on.
I said pre-Christmas, before the Everton game, that if the Redemption Tour, which spanned from then to mid-January and included Forest on the 17th, could claim 15 points out of 18, we'd be looking good. So far across the 'festive fixtures', we are 12 for 12, with games against Liverpool and Forest still to go. If we do manage it, that is Champions Form and would set a pace that would test even City to the limit.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
I should mention the trio of Zubimendi, Odegaard and Rice.
I don't think there is a better triangle in the league, and maybe in Europe, than those three.
Odegaard's season started late due to injury, but in the last few weeks, he has been back to his best. A hand in two of the goals last night, he looks like a player comfortable with where his game is at.
He is at his best as a flow player, not forcing things. I also think (to Eze's detriment) he has taken a great deal of confidence from the manager sticking him straight back in the team without hesitation.
Zubimendi did Zubimendi things again last night. He is a silent patroller, a metronome who keeps us constantly ticking over. A firefighter supreme.
My only worry is his load management. He has played more outfield minutes than any other player, with 19 out of 20 starts. Hopefully, he makes it through Liverpool okay, then puts his feet up for the FA Cup.
That leaves Mr Half Price, who is, in case you hadn't guessed, is our MOTM.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Declan Rice gets our Man of the Match.
Pretty easy, really. Not just for his two goals, but he has the same knack as Zubimendi for being in the right place at the right time at both ends of the pitch. If he adds goals to his game regularly, then he is definitely in the conversation for the world's best if he isn't already.
I get the impression, and I guess you probably do, too, that he seems to be a man on a mission—a man who's sick of finishing second and will not be denied this time around.
If anyone is going to drag us kicking and screaming over the finish line this season, it will be No.41, Mr Half Price.
LOOKING AHEAD
Onwards and upwards to Liverpool in 4 days at The Emirates. A Liverpool, who, despite being fifteen points behind us, still thinks, according to their Twitter fandom, that they have a chance of winning the league. Yes, really. Let's put that nonsense to bed once and for all, come Thursday night.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I view the Bournemouth game as one of our more difficult matches now behind us, with three key points secured. A side that is extremely well coached and, before last night, had only lost one game and conceded just six goals on home soil all season.
We went there, won and scored three in the process. City has to go there in the second last week of the season. Hopefully, Bournemouth still has something left to play for at that point. I could definitely see The Cherries taking something off them.
Since it's a Sunday, I have a new Song and Film of the week for your enjoyment.
As with most weeks, I try to have it themed to suit. Hope you enjoy.
I will be back on Wednesday for the Liverpool preview, work commitments permitting, as my Christmas time off is now over and normality is back as of tomorrow. Not Fun Times, but we all need to work to earn a living, unfortunately.
See you then, Legion, and thanks for your continued support into the New Year.