AFC Bournemouth vs Arsenal - Eddie Howe: Defence key to Bournemouth's recent surge - 7M sport

AFC Bournemouth vs Arsenal - Eddie Howe: Defence key to Bournemouth's recent surge



Posted Saturday, February 06, 2016 by PA

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe believes his side's improving defence is the key to their impressive form in the Barclays Premier League.

The Cherries have lost just twice in their last 12 league games ahead of their meeting with title-chasing Arsenal.

Howe said: "It has become very important that we have become harder to beat. We have been dogged, resilient (and we now do) all the things we needed to do from the start (of the season).

"We had a lot of work to do.

"Full credit to the players in how they have responded, they have worked really hard this season and I have been very pleased with the mentality of the group, how they have approached the big games and the games against the teams around us.

"Now we need to maintain that consistency."

Bournemouth lost 2-0 to Arsenal over the festive period and Howe knows Sunday's clash against a team looking to looking to bounce back from their disappointing 0-0 draw with Southampton in midweek will be a tough one.

"I don't think just because their name is Arsenal we approach this any different," he said. "There will always be tweaks and changes, that is how we work, but the mindset and approach is very much the same.

"I would like to think we are slightly more confident with the run we have had and the importance of the fixtures we have been able to win. Maybe we can go into the game with renewed belief we can beat the very best sides.

"They are under pressure to win the league, their objectives are totally different to ours. But I think we have to do what we do and try and do it to the very best of our abilities, than we will have a chance. But we are going to have to be at the very highest level to beat one of the best teams in the country."

January signing Benik Afobe will look to continue his flying start at Bournemouth against the team he began his career with.

The 22-year-old, who did not play a first-team goal for Arsenal before being sold to Wolves, has scored in his last three games.

Howe said: "I have been pleasantly surprised at how quickly he has moulded to the group and grabbed our philosophy.

"His temperament is really good, (he's a) very level-headed guy and he works very hard.

"I think it is very dangerous to build the game up in your own mind. It's a former club yes, but you just have to approach it like you would any other game - be motivated to perform, but don't over-try."

Upon completing his move to to the south coast, Afobe's former boss Arsene Wenger backed the striker to be a hit at the Vitality Stadium and again spoke warmly of the 22-year-old in the build-up to Sunday's clash.

"He was very young," Wenger replied when asked why it had not worked out for Afobe at Arsenal.

"He had big competition in front of him: he had Robin van Persie, players like that, so I gave him authorisation to go somewhere and play, which he did.

"Overall you educate people to influence their lives and give them success - that is what we do. When they do not manage to play for us, if they do it somewhere else we are of course very happy for them.

"I believe Benik has done extremely well, even beyond expectations of many people and that's great, that's down to him and congratulations to him."

The spotlight may be on Afobe on Sunday but Arsenal's own goal-getters will also be under close examination, with Wenger's side having drawn a blank in their last three league outings - the first time that has happened in seven years.

Failure to score for a fourth consecutive fixture will further damage Arsenal's title challenge and leave them in fourth, just five weeks after they beat Bournemouth 2-0 to move to the top of the table.

Arsenal have no new injury worries from the goalless draw with Southampton while Bournemouth's Junior Stanislas (knee) faces a late fitness test.



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