Thursday 11 January 2018

AFCB's central midfielders need to inspire more

The selection of Bournemouth's central midfielders has become a really close contest this season in my opinion. While Arter and Surman are the experienced duo that have been Howe's most popular go to players, the gap between them and Dan Gosling and Lewis Cook has closed and Howe has to decide soon who is most reliable with AFCB's Premier League status at stake.
Is Dan Gosling going to be unlucky and sit this one out?
Playing against Arsenal's midfield will need extra energy and fast thinking and I was looking forward to the potential battle with Wilshere, who sadly picked up an injury in the Carabao Cup match against Chelsea this week. When Jack came to Bournemouth everyone thought out would be Harry that missed out, but Arter wasn't about to sit aside and I believe this game will be one where he will want to prove that he can be the main man for AFCB in the middle. I believe Arter will get the vote to play, because Harry loves nothing more than to go toe-to-toe with top players and even if it is not to be Wilshere there is still Xhaka or Ramsey that Wenger could pick to play. 

Will Arter keep his place from the last league game?
Andrew Surman has only just come back from injury and Eddie Howe could be tempted to keep with Dan Gosling or Lewis Cook next to Harry, but it would be a break with what we have seen in the main as Surman has been the kind of senior member of the centre midfielders and tend to get selected when he is fit. For me it is whether Surman is going to be able to play with more speed and better intensity than Gosling or Lewis Cook. 
Lewis Cook has the fans' vote but does he have Eddie's?

While I know who the majority of fans would pick, the way Dan Gosling has played in recent weeks has been inspiring. He has enjoyed his time on the pitch and scoring against Chelsea meant a lot to him. It's just a shame it didn't lead to extra time. I do think Bournemouth have been lucky to keep hold of Gosling though, as he could do a good job in many of the sides in the Premier League, and is probably one of the most underrated players at AFCB.


If Lewis Cook does start getting the selections over the others though it will be hard to hold him back. He may go from strength to strength and ind he has more than another level to go to yet. Dipping him in and out of the side may seem a bit cruel, but I am sure that while he can have several good games he is going to get the odd game against top quality players when he does feel up against it, and Howe is no doubt trying to protect him a bit from getting too many lessons too quickly.

While you may have your favourite out of these four, I am just pleased that when on form any of them are capable of grabbing hold of a game and dominating from the middle, and that is something I'd really like to see against Arsenal who are supposed to have some of the best midfielders around.

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