AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth will be hoping to avoid defeat for the fourth season in succession when they face Premier League high-fliers Arsenal at Emirates Stadium tonight.
Ahead of the game, afcb.co.uk caught up with Bob Wilson OBE to get his expert opinion on Unai Emery’s team.
Wilson, who now lives in Christchurch, made more than 300 appearances for the Gunners between 1963 and 1974 before going on to spend 28 years at the club as goalkeeper coach.
afcbco.uk: What’s your view on Unai Emery’s tenure so far?
BW: As I see it, there is very little change other than the playing out from the back which, as a goalkeeper, I dislike intensely.
We are very similar to how we were under Arsene Wenger in recent seasons, not in the glory days but that’s all about players and who you have.
Very little has changed other than this wish to play out from the back which drives me mad because it’s all about distance between you and the enemy. All the goalkeepers are misjudging that distance with guys who can sprint like Usain Bolt.
In short, attacking-wise, we are very dangerous and have some really good players. I’m talking particularly about Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette but he very rarely plays them together which is a bit of a frustration for us.
Defensively, we are still incredibly vulnerable. You only have to look at the goals against column to see how many more we have conceded compared with the other teams in the top six. We leak goals.
afcb.co.uk: Do you think Arsene Wenger was always going to be a hard act to follow?
BW: Arsene is virtually an impossible act to follow. We won 10 major trophies and seven Charity Shields in 22 years. Wembley became our second home, as it were.
In amongst that was the most understated achievement in football that I’ve known and that was going 49 games unbeaten in the Invincibles season. Arsene, both on and off the field, is a remarkable man and one of the two greatest men I have ever met.
afcb.co.uk: Who was the other one?!!
BW: Bert Trautmann was my hero as a goalkeeper because I could replicate what he did, which was dive head-long at people’s feet. You don’t see any goalies doing that nowadays. Arguably, I did better than Bert because I never broke my neck!
afcb.co.uk: Who are Arsenal’s danger men?
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette. They really have an eye for goal and can create something out of nothing.
afcb.co.uk: What chance do Arsenal have of finishing fourth?
BW: I would say slight simply because the top three are already there and I don’t think anybody is going to catch them.
I guess you would then put your money on Chelsea or Manchester United ahead of Arsenal. It’s not what I would want but it’s how we are.
afcb.co.uk: Can the Cherries spring a surprise at Emirates Stadium?
BW: Yes, of course. I remember they went to Chelsea last season and were absolutely outstanding.
I’m a huge fan of Eddie Howe. I’ve never met him and hope I will one day. To me, he is a young Arsene Wenger and knows exactly what it takes to entertain the crowd. You need to provide entertainment in this game.
I love the way he has always wanted to play the game which I think is similar to Arsene and I think it’s exceptional what he continues to do for AFC Bournemouth.
