Eddie Howe believes his squad must deliver “close to our best performance” to leave Arsenal with a result tonight – but reveals that things are looking up after a return to normality behind the scenes.
He feels the “confidence is returning” to the team, explaining how our recent schedule has improved our work in training the general vibe within the squad.
Howe is fully aware of the huge challenge ahead as we take on an Arsenal side who’ve won their last two league games by an aggregate score of 11-0. However, he insists that motivation is high within the squad, with the players “desperate” to close the gap on sides above us in the right for European football.
Here’s what he’s had to say ahead of tonight’s 8pm kick off in North London:
“Hopefully the confidence is returning. We have a big challenge against Arsenal. We want to win. We will do everything in our power to win.”
“It has been really good to be able to train. We have seen the benefits in some of the performances recently, the players have been better for it.
“The vibe in the squad has been better. We are desperate to try and close the gap on the teams above us, so we’ve got a lot to be motivated for.
‘Last season was a battling performance from us at the Emirates. We will need to replicate close to our best performance to get something from the game.
“Arsenal this season have been very good in every aspect of the game. It will be a challenge for us. The last game [in November] made headlines, that’s the best way of putting it for what happened with the goal and everything that happened afterwards.
‘I don’t know if we look at it that way. We just look at it like another opponent to try and beat. We analyse them forensically to find the best way to get a result. I’m sure for Arsenal it’s exactly the same. Mikel is a very passionate guy, he will defend his team. I am the same, I will defend my team.”
