Day: February 7, 2016

Bournemouth 0 Arsenal 2

- Roshan

Arsenal scored twice in 88 first-half seconds to overwhelm Bournemouth and move level on points with second-placed Tottenham. Mesut Ozil lashed the ball home from 12 yards for the Gunners’ opener, before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain drifted in from the right and scored with a low shot. Bournemouth played some slick football at times and had more attempts at goal, but their finishing was poor. Matt Ritchie was the chief culprit, with none of his five shots on target. For Arsenal, who had not won in the league since 3 January, the relief was clear. They controlled the game with early possession before catching Bournemouth with a pair of swift strikes which rendered the contest a foregone conclusion.

Ozil set the Gunners on their way with a powerful shot after Olivier Giroud had headed Aaron Ramsey’s long pass into the German’s feet. And Arsene Wenger’s pre-match assertion that Oxlade-Chamberlain was in form and would offer good balance on the right proved prophetic when the winger came inside and his low shot went in via the far post. Again, Ramsey had a hand in the goal – the Welshman pulling the strings for the Gunners and giving Bournemouth a lesson in turning some eye-catching moves into ruthless attacks. Despite chasing the game in the second half, it took until stoppage time for Bournemouth to test Petr Cech, when the Arsenal keeper made a fine double save to deny Steve Cook and Harry Arter from low shots. Until then, it had been a succession of wayward pops at goal and intricate, but not incisive, approach play.

Arsenal are unbeaten in 23 fixtures against newly-promoted sides, winning 19 and drawing four. Mesut Ozil has now scored in both Premier League matches versus Bournemouth this season with both goals having been assisted by Olivier Giroud. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored his first Premier League goal in 38 appearances. It was his first goal involvement in 26 Premier League games. The Gunners move into 3rd place with 48 points, same as 2nd place Tottenham who have a better goal difference, and 5 points behind leaders Leicester City.

Staycation Is On

- Roshan

Well as I mentioned earlier I am on a staycation / leave from the office. My first planned leave since I joined this organization back in January of last year. I have had a tough last two months with so many extra hours that it tired the crap outta me. Several days during the last 2 months where I had to stretch for 2-3 hours a day and having to go back home via a taxi or Uber if lucky. That is an extra cost for me. I did a quick calculation and saw that I had worked atleast 72 hours more than was needed on a normal 2 month period.

That is a bit too much for me. So I had planned to take a week off and combined with my 2 weekends that would sandwich this 5 day week, it would give me 9 days of leisure and being away from work and not have to worry about emails and crap. So I applied for one and initially I was going to get it but since there is something important coming up on Friday the 12th, I will have to make it a 4 day leave. Nevermind I will still get a few days of rest and immediately after working on Friday I will get 2 more days off because it’s the weekend. So I took it and yesterday I just slept in late and lazed around at home, eating Oreo cookies and catching up on the tv show episodes of the past week that I hadn’t seen yet.

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Today, although I was tired having been woken up by 4:30 am by biting mosquitoes and then going to take a leak and not being able to sleep again, I went out for a while. I got a nice sandwich and a frappe and a while later went to get a beer but I started feeling very sleepy and tired and after one bomber bottle and some prawns, I came back home and slept for a couple of hours. In the evening with some coffee I am more alert and I am watching some Sunday football. I have 4 more days off and I will go to largest mall in India – one which I have never been to despite it being open for 3 years or so – Lulu International.

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