Bournemouth and United States national team midfielder Tyler Adams admits he felt a “sense of nervousness” from the Emirates Stadium crowd during his side’s victory over Arsenal as the club chase a first Premier League in 22 years.
Bournemouth were 2-1 winners over Arsenal on April 11, a result that meant Manchester City could draw level on points with Mikel Arteta’s side if they beat the league leaders the following Sunday — a match they won 2-1 — and win their games in hand.
The result drew some boos from the Emirates crowd at the final whistle, while during the game, and in previous matches, there has been a sense of tension and frustration.
Adams returned from a three-week injury layoff during the win over Arsenal, and explained how Bournemouth fed off the “anxious” energy from the home crowd.
“We told ourselves before the game we had to put ourselves in their shoes,” the USMNT captain told the Men in Blazers Podcast. “They have a whole lot to play for. We have a lot to play for but it’s a different circumstance when you’re chasing a title.
“We knew it was probably going to be a little bit nervy, and if one things goes wrong, and the fans start getting a little bit anxious, and I think we played into that occasion.”
Adams explained “one little mistake” from the home side was the catalyst for the anxious atmosphere to kick in.
He believed it would be a “difficult” environment for the Arsenal players to thrive and play their best football in, adding it was “the best thing to hear” from a visiting player’s perspective.
“You can tell early on, when they’re trying to play out from the back, that there was a sense of nervousness,” Adams continued. “The thing was, the team was playing well. Arsenal in the first five, 10 minutes played some of the best football they did in that game, and you saw they were confident.
“But it just takes one little error, one little mistake, and the fans get a little bit nervy. That’s a difficult atmosphere to play in and thrive in when you’re trying to chase a championship. Because we talk about them like they’re not sitting first in the table still.
“As an opposition it’s the best thing too hear. When you’re playing an away game and all of a sudden it feels like the momentum is swinging and it feels like a home game.
“At certain moments in the game I heard our fans celebrating or cheering and it was like: why’s it so quiet in hear? They’re trying to chase a title, we’re trying to chase potentially finishing in a European position, but it feels like we’re playing for a little bit more in the circumstances. I think it can be really difficult when you’re in an environment like that.”
Arsenal return to action against Newcastle United at the Emirates on Saturday. They lead Manchester City by three points, but Pep Guardiola’s side can leapfrog them on goal difference with victory over Burnley on Wednesday.
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