And so to the Stadium of Stone, where AFC Bournemouth will be the visitors shortly after noon on Saturday. In the early 1970s, Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic Football Club impudently changed its name to elevate itself above us in alphabetical listings. Whatever.
It says something about the recency of Bournemouth’s ascent to the top flight that our first league encounter against them was less than ten years ago and Saturday’s will be only the 14th league game between the clubs. We have won ten, drawn two and lost only one of the 13 that will have preceded it. The loss occurred in January 2018 when Callum Wilson and Jordon Ibe’s goals cancelled Hector Bellerin’s opener at the Vitality Stadium.
The first league game was three days after Christmas Day, 2015, our table-topping team beat them 2-0 thanks to goals by Gabriel Paulista and Mesut Ozil. Peter Cech created a Premier League record by keeping his 170th clean sheet, although not many of them were for us. We had only played the Cherries once before that, in October 1987 in the league cup, then sponsored by Littlewoods, which ran football pools (google it, younger ‘holics) and was once the biggest private company in Europe. We won 3-0 at Highbury.
This paucity of encounters means the monks were deprived of the pleasure of leafing through old newspapers for reports of epic matches in days of yore. There was, somewhat against the odds, not even a random FA Cup tie. Of the 60 or so clubs we have played in the league, there are only three that we have never been drawn against in the FA Cup. Bonus points to anyone who can name the other two apart from Bournemouth.
Out of Boscombe
Bournemouth’s path is typical of many small-town clubs formed in the dying embers of the Victorian era. Formed as Boscombe FC, it made its way via county leagues to the Southern League, where it became Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic FC, and thence the Football League’s old regional Third Division. It remained in the Third Division South for 35 years after being elected in 1923, followed by another 12 in the Third Division after the North and South divisions were reorganised in 1958 into the Third and Fourth Divisions.
After a half-century experiencing neither promotion nor relegation, Bournemouth was relegated in 1970 but immediately promoted the season after. It then bounced up and down between the Second, Third and Fourth Divisions and went into administration twice before, back in League Two (the Fourth Division in the old money) and docked 10 points for being insolvent, it appointed the Amersham Ancelotti as manager towards the end of 2008.
Eddie Howe, just 31 when he took over at the club he had played for and the youngest manager in the Football League, then led Bournemouth on a remarkable six-season march from being 10 points adrift at the bottom of League Two to the Promised Land of the Premier League. However, the football gods also tear down those they build up. Howe’s tenure ended after relegation at the end of the 2019-20 season. He would eventually be lost to the world in Geordie Arabia.
After two seasons in the Championship, Bournemouth returned to the Premier League under Scott Parker. He lasted until Liverpool thrashed them 9-0 four games in. Gary O’Neill took over and kept the Cherries up before being replaced last summer by Andoni Iraola.
Antiguoko Alumni
Iraola and Mikel Arteta are old team mates. Born less than three months and six miles apart, they played together as teenagers for Antiguoko, a youth club in San Sebastian that has produced some 40 professional players and now with another of their teammates, Xabi Alonso, three top-class coaches. Iraola and Arteta’s last game playing together was for Spain’s U-21 side.
Despite a rough start to the season — winless in his first nine league games — Iraola has got the team playing the way he wants and has steered it to its best PL points haul with three games still to play. Since November 1, only we, City, ‘Pool and Villa have accumulated more PL points. Once sceptical, Cherries fans now talk of Iraola potentially becoming a more storied Bournemouth manager than Howe.
The Opposition
Iraola’s Bournemouth presses high (it is fourth in the league for turnovers in the opposition’s defensive third) and is comfortable out of possession. It looks for rapid transitions that use the pace of wingers Justin Kluivert (son of Dutch and Barcelona legend Patrick) and Ghanaian international Antoine Semeyno to unleash the goal-scoring threat of Basingstoke-born Dominic Solanke (18 goals this season). Semeyno was carried off towards the end of last weekend’s 3-0 win over Brighton after a heavy tackle, but latest reports from the Dorset coast say he has avoided joining a lengthy list of those off-games who will miss Saturday’s match, including Ryan Fredericks, Marcus Tavernier, Luis Sinisterra, Tyler Adams and Chris Mepham. He may be fit enough only for the bench, however.
Against Brighton, Iraola used a 4-4-2 instead of his favoured 4-2-3-1 to give a first start to newly acquired Man City academy product Enes Unal. The young Turk’s loan from Getafe is being made permanent for around £14 million, suggesting Bournemouth expects to cash in on the prolific Solanke this summer.
Another well-regarded prospect, Alex Scott, bought from Bristol City last summer, will be the creative fulcrum in midfield, which will be anchored by the more seasoned Lewis Cook, a one-cap England international, and the Scottish international Ryan Christie. The availability of Philip Billing after a fever and Romain Faivre after a thigh injury will give Iraola midfield options from the bench.
An injury-ravaged defence will still be makeshift. Leytonstone-born Adam Smith will captain the team from right back, with Max Aarons and Fredericks unavailable. Marcos Senesi, a one-cap Argentina international centre-back with an eye for goal (four and three assists this season), will play inside him, but who partners Senesi is an open question. With Mepham, gone in the fetlock, Ilya Zabarnyi recovering from illness and a question mark hanging over the fitness of a third senior centre back, Lloyd Kelly, young James Hill, who was brought back from a loan to Blackburn Rovers in January but has less than 75 minutes of Premier League football across five games, may have to be pressed into service. Regular left-back Milos Kerkez, a young Hungarian international, is suspended. Dango Ouattara, a Burkina Faso international winger, will likely fill in for him as he did with some elan against Brighton.
Iraola also has a goalkeeping controversy, having replaced his captain and No. 1 keeper. Neto, a one-cap Brazilian international, with Mark Travers two games ago. The 24-year-old Irish international came up through Bournemouth’s academy and has been on loan at Swindon and Stoke for the past two seasons. While Neto is said to be the better shot-stopper, his catching and kicking are reputedly less reliable than Travers’s. Sound familiar?
The Arsenal
With no reported new injuries, Arteta will likely keep faith with the team that won the NLD last Sunday. Martinelli and Jesus are the most likely candidates for starting berths if Arteta wants to rotate, with Trossard dropping to the bench. With six days of rest and three games to go, my guess is that Arteta will stick, not twist. Thus:
Raya
White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu
Ødegaard, Partey, Rice,
Saka, Havertz, Trossard
The biggest point of selection interest may be whether Jurrien Timber, who Arteta says is available again, makes the matchday squad. The teamsheet for Friday night’s U-21 game may offer a clue.
It goes without saying that this game is another must-win. Bournemouth has pace and power in attack, presses high and transitions quickly. They are a team on the up and in form, and they still have a mathematical chance of qualifying for Europe.
Yet we should have the quality to pick apart their makeshift defence as long as we get on the front foot and follow the folk wisdom in the title of this preview. Three nil and three points would be the order of the day, and may ravenous Wolves devour City.
Enjoy the game, ‘holics, near and far.
Excellent stuff Ned. How gutting for the monks that there is so little history between the two teams! As ever, you’ve managed to corral them into coming up with some top gen on the opposition, and stitched it together beautifully.
Frankly, it is exactly this sort of wonderfully researched piece that has persuaded me to stop putting my name in the hat for previews and stick to reports! It’s a cracking read mate, well done.
As for the game. Just win. I would have thought that getting to 3-0 would be enough for me to relax, but the last match put paid to that. Unless we are 5-0 ahead then I reckon I won’t be particularly chilled out during the game, but as long as we win then it won’t matter. They are a good side but we just have to beat them. Preferably by a hatful.
UTA!
Ned,
Terrific preview- as GSD says you do these so well and one always learns something about upcoming opponents . I’ve passed my ticket on to a friend tomorrow as I’m driving to Norfolk for a week’s R& R .
I think your team is exactly the one he will pick and I think Timber willreturn on the bench
I think Iraiola is one of the coming managers and has done a great job. We had enough trouble with this lot last season and they have improved and have a dangerous attack.
But I have to believe we will win- possibly 3-1
COYG!
Fantastic effort Ned.
Back of the net Boscombe! was a chant from the not too distant past.
Well let’s not let a goal in after 30 seconds and maybe put them to bed in the first half.
Thanks Ned, an excellent preview of a tricky game. My mum lives in Amersham and it’s annoying to think such a pleasant little English town could have produced the likes of Nice Guy Eddie.
Anyway, despite my expectation of relegation in our Predicatathon, you have to hand it to the Bournemouth team and Iraola, it’s been a very good season. It would also be smart to flog the overrated Solanke now I think. However, it’s time for them to be brought back to earth with a 4-0 defeat.
I have no idea who MA will pick, your XI looks reasonable to me, but I will guess at Salford and Fleetwood at the two teams we have never played.
More ravenous by the minute. Roar.
An excellent and enlightening preview, Ned. Bournemouth earned considerable respect through their progressive rise through the divisions and played some nice football when they first came into the PL. However that respect was dissipated by their sacking of Gary O’Neil who transformed their fortunes last season and whose Wolves team sit on the same points but below Bournemouth due to being one goal worse off on GD. Hopefully, Saturday’s results for those two clubs reverse their relationship with a substantial worsening of Bournemouth’s GD and a substantial improvement of Wolves’ GD plus an extra three points for the latter.
I’d start with your team and would be very happy with your predicted scoreline though I’d far prefer a clean sheet.
I have an early start tomorrow to drive up and meet my son and daughter for the first of our first pair of consecutive home games this season. It’s only the second PL game that we have been ‘awarded’ seats this season. Gawd bless the ballot….finally!
COYRRR!
Thanks Ned for your usual top qualitee preview. I will be backing two varieties of Wolves this weekend, the second one being the local NBA variety who are enjoying an unusual moment in the sun. https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/05/03/wolves-nuggets-preview-jokic-edwards-who-is-favored
Arsenal of course being the main event. COYG!!!!
Ned,
Forest Green and Fleetwood?
Our U21s beat Man U 6-2 tonight in the PL2 play-offs
OM and TTG, we haven’t played any of those clubs in the league either. Keep guessing! (Not my specialist subject either btw but I do know how to read a question properly! 😉)
Bath,
You are quite right, I have always thought you were well-read…..
I wonder if AFC Wimbledon count as Wimbledon of yore?
If so, I’d guess them as one.
And after some wracking of my brains, well 2 minutes worth of obscure teams who came up once I will go for Carlisle as the other
Interesting story in the Guardian today re Mad Jens snaffling the rights to the Invincibles name, for 30,000 quid
Apparently with the full support of Arsene, 11 staff members, and 28 players in the Invincibles squad.
I’m sure one of our regulars can post the article in the Bar.
AFC Board and Marketing team must have been fast asleep, to not have registered the name.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/may/03/arsenal-lose-invincibles-branding-after-lehmann-acquires-rights-for-30000
As @12 from Clive
I stand reproved !
We’ve played Carlisle in the Cup and League .
I’d agree AFC Wimbledon who we played in the League Cup. I will keep thinking
Didn’t we beat Bournemouth en route to our Cup success in 2020 ?
Cheers Ned! Fairly worried about Bournemouth, though the preview makes me hope their injury list helps us.
Good work from, one assumes, a new generation of monks verses in less ancient times: this was an impressively thorough preview.
Thanks, Ned ! Great work in your inimitable style.
Long histories of, pardon my arrogance, smaller clubs could become boring. Yours
never do. Always enjoyable and very readable.
If Martinelli is fully fit I would have him to run at an injury hit defence. His recent absences do beg the question as to whether he’s been suffering a loss of form or fitness though.
Another must win game – is there any other type in this league ? Even if Timber is on the bench, I still think it’s unlikely we’ll see him play unless we are comfortable at GSD’s 5-0 up.
Come on Wolves !
@14 I don’t remember playing Carlisle in the cup but I will happily bow to your memory TTG. I was trying to think of one season wonder clubs like Northampton or Bristol City who came and went very quickly.
Cheers Ned!
UTA!
Thanks Ned for another fact filled preview. As always you’ve unearthed some gems of information.
Like you I think Arteta will run with the tried and tested of the past few matches…..if it ain’t broke etc. This could be a tricky game looking at Bournemouth’s current form – not the walk over of years past. I’m sure Mikel will set up the boys with the right mind set.
Just win – that all.
Congratulations to David Raya on winning the Golden Glove. As with any such award winner, he didn’t accomplish it by himself and credit is also due his defensive colleagues including Gabriel and Saliba.
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Trossard, Saka, Havertz
Subs: Ramsdale, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Smith Rowe, Vieira, Jesus, Martinelli, Nketiah
Arteta in his presser: We will only know if Timber is ready if we throw him on the pitch and see what happens ……
Can you imagine Mikel Arteta ever throwing any player on the pitch to see what happens ?
Especially three games from the end of a title challenge with absolutely no margin for error – not even one single manometer ?
5 minutes at then if we’re 5-0 up then. And quite right too !
An unchanged XI and each, the option of Timber on the bench was not taken. Not a big surprise all things considered,
Ah, cheers Esso !
Not even that then 😀
An unchanged XI and bench I meant to say….
That looks likw a good team to me, Esso. Tomi, Thomas and Trossard providing the oomph to get us across the finish line after others played huge parts throughout the bulk of the season in those positions. COYG
Re: the headline, “Tottenham will listen to offers for Brazil forward Richarlison, 26 this summer.”
Presuming somebody would want to offer them something for him of course which is a not inconsiderable presumption.
I’d offer them a muzzle for starters
Lucky to get that pen from the replay
But not clear and obvious error I think
VAR agrees to my surprise and……..get in!!
Bloody handy time to get a goal but we deserved the lead
2-0!! Rice did well to lay it off and Leo finished with his customary aplomb
Not clear and obvious again I would have thought. How many fucking times
do they need to look?
Top performance! Doing our bit, all we can ask. Declan Rice? Words fail me.
Rice and Havertz were outstanding. Well done Arsenal
Yeah, Rice was motm again
We’ve got Super Mik Arreta 🎶
Belated thanks for the kind words earlier for the preview.
That was a bit of a curate’s egg of a game. We could have been a hatful ahead in the first quarter of an hour and we got a couple of VAR decisions at crucial moments that could have gone either way. Still 3-0 (Ned knows!) and onwards. As Esso says, doing our bit, all we can ask.
As Foden beat Rice and Ødegaard for the Football Writers’ Footballer of the Year award, he must have been playing out of his skin. Both our boys have been fantastic, and again today.
On the quiz question in the preview: bonus point for Bath for understanding the question; one point for OM for getting Wimbledon. One point is still up for grabs.
Incidentally, we have played twice as many FA Cup games against Carlisle as league games. We haven’t played Fleetwood or Forest Green in either the league of the FA Cup. There are at least 14 clubs we have played in the FA Cup but never in a league game.
Ned,
Am I right in thinking we beat Bournemouth 2-1 away in the Cup in 2020? I recall the estimable C100 reporting on it . I think Sokratis scored
Cherries crushed.
TTG@41: You are correct about 2020, but I was referring to the many years before the first league game between the two clubs in 2015.
Somnolent more than ravenous Wolves.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>