Arsenal vs AFC Bournemouth - Wenger: players will bounce back

Posted Sunday, December 27, 2015 by PA

Arsene Wenger is confident Arsenal will numb the pain of the Boxing Day shellacking at Southampton within 48 hours.

The trip to St Mary's seemingly offered the Frenchman's side a great chance to go top of the Barclays Premier League, but a poor display saw them return to north London reeling from a shock 4-0 defeat.

Shane Long's brace complemented an exceptional Cuco Martina half-volley and Jose Fonte's header as Saints ended a six-match winless run in some style.

There is little time for Arsenal to wallow, though, as the hectic festive period means they take on another south-coast side on Monday.

Bournemouth will look to ratchet up the pressure, but Wenger is confident of a positive response at the Emirates Stadium.

"I believe what I say to my players is between my players and myself," he said after the 4-0 hammering at St Mary's.

"These players have fantastic spirit and they can show that in 48 hours.

"We are in a job where we have to respond. We want to respond from disappointments.

"Unfortunately, there's no possible career without disappointment. Nobody, not even the best players in the world, can have that.

"It's down to how you respond and I trust my players to respond in a very strong way on Monday."

Wenger certainly will not be taking Bournemouth lightly and praised the promoted side ahead of a match which could see the Gunners belatedly reach the Premier League summit.

Surprise leaders Leicester do not face Manchester City until Tuesday, but Wenger is not concerned about starting 2016 in pole position.

"I said before the game, whether we are one point behind or one point in front it is not too important," he said.

"It is the quality of our performance that counts and we were not good enough to win the game (against Southampton).

"We have just to look at that. On the other side, we can't dwell too much because in 48 hours we play again.

"We are disappointed and frustrated, but there's only one way to respond in 48 hours."

Despite the heavy defeat, Wenger was impressed by substitutes Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Calum Chambers and Alex Iwobi and they could all start against Bournemouth.

Alexis Sanchez (hamstring), Jack Wilshere (leg) and Mikel Arteta (calf) remain sidelined, as do Francis Coquelin, Danny Welbeck, Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky (all knee).

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe wants his side to learn from their match against Crystal Palace as they head to the Emirates.

The Cherries drew 0-0 with fifth-placed Palace on Boxing Day and Howe believes his side showed moments of real class but did not quite have enough to finish the game off.

"We created the best chances in the game - but unfortunately for us we didn't take them," he said.

"I don't think we ever got enough forward momentum and swing today with the ball but I think that is credit to them in part because they are a side that do break momentum and we found it very difficult to pin them in."

The Arsenal match is Bournemouth's last game of 2015 and their last before the transfer window opens but Howe will not be looking to make big changes in January.

"Now we move into a really tough period where we know we are going to have to be even better," he said.

"I think you are always looking for ways to improve but certainly I have been really pleased with our front line and how we have attacked recent games.

"I think we have been scoring goals regularly, we have been creating chances so I don't think there is anything wrong with what we are delivering."

There will be a last minute decision as to whether Harry Arter will start in north London after Howe brought him off at half-time on Saturday.

The 25-year-old midfielder picked up the only yellow card of the match and has only just returned from a hamstring injury he picked up at the end of November.