Old boy Afobe is backing Arsenal

AFTERA more than 14 years connected to Arsenal, Benik Afobe knows the routine all too well when it comes to the title race. They flatter, they deceive, they fall short and they end up disappointed.

‘They can go on and win it but it has been the same every year,’ said Afobe, after his Bournemouth team were beaten by Arsenal on Sunday.

‘This time of the season they normally fall a bit behind and start losing games they should be winning.’

Arsenal take on leaders Leicester next and Afobe (below) hopes this is the year when it changes for Arsene Wenger and a club where he spent 14 years in the youth ranks without playing for the first-team.

‘It can be different for them this season,’ said the 22-year-old. ‘It is a season where no one could have believed there would be this many teams still in it. Tottenham are in it and no one would have thought they would be challenging for the league this season. Leicester as well, Manchester City, Arsenal and there might be latecomers.

‘It is all to play for at the top but I am just concentrating on staying up with Bournemouth. All our games are massive from now on.’

Afobe left Arsenal last year to join Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Championship and moved into the Premier League last month when Bournemouth paid £10million for the young striker.

There was time for a brief chat with Wenger after Arsenal’s 2-0 victory at the Vitality Stadium, their first win in five league games.

‘He just wished me all the best for the season and I said the same to him,’ said Afobe. ‘He’s a good guy. I’ve nothing bad to say about him or anyone at Arsenal.

‘If they win the league, it will be great for everyone associated with Arsenal. They have world- class players and they showed their quality against us. If they win it, great. But we’ll have to wait and see.’

Afobe headed for home with Olivier Giroud’s shirt as a souvenir. ‘He is someone I have looked up to,’ he said. ‘He’s a great guy on and off the pitch. He works hard and scores a lot of goals. When I was coming through the ranks, he was the main centre forward.

‘He said some nice words about me before the game. It was nice to hear that from someone who is a worldclass centre forward. I don’t know why he gets a lot of stick because he scores goals every season.

‘It was nice to see him and play against him. He got my shirt as well. I don’t know how much he wanted it but he has got my shirt.’