Harry Arter seems pretty pissed off at suggestions he was ever going to leave Ireland.
An unfortunately timed injury coupled with a soaring rise in Premier League form added to the coincidence that Martin O’Neill hasn’t played him in a competitive international yet left the door open for the Bournemouth midfielder to switch allegiance to England, not that it was anything he was ever interested in.
He kept his head down and just carried on starring for Eddie Howe’s men who held the undefeated Spurs to a goalless draw on Saturday morning.
Arter picked up another man of the match award and, whilst everyone knows about his exciting capabilities on the ball, it was his Ander Herrera-esque defensive stats that set him apart in the lunch time kick-off.
Tackles: 7
Interceptions: 3
Clearances: 3
Blocked shots: 1
He was all over white jerseys like a nasty rash, so much so that Moussa Sissoko appeared to lash out at the Irish international with his elbow.
Arter has started and finished every one of Bournemouth’s Premier League games this season, barring 13 minutes he missed against West Ham having received a second yellow. He’s chipped in with two assists so far and he has left loan signing Jack Wilshere in awe.
“He is definitely up there with some of the midfielders I’ve played with,” Wilshere said of Arter after Bournemouth beat Everton.
“I have played with some top midfielders but it says a lot about a player when you are not at a big club like Arsenal and you are putting in performances like that.
“If he wants to, I’m sure he could go onto bigger clubs.”
Arter might gush at quotes like that if they didn’t come from a player that he’s much more reliable and consistent than.
But the midfielder went ahead and reaffirmed his loyalty to Ireland after Saturday’s draw with Spurs.
With just three caps, the 26-year-old is still to set Dublin alight but, in his full international debut against Holland, he won man of the match in that too. And, in his head, he’s not thinking about anything else on the national scene but getting ready for the trip to Austria next month.
Speaking with Kevin Kilbane on Newstalk’s Off The Ball, Arter smashed down rumours that he was ever looking elsewhere other than Ireland.
“It was a strange one,” he said. “At the time, I didn’t feel like I wanted to answer it or say anything about it because it hadn’t come from me. For someone to make up a rumour like that, I personally felt like it didn’t deserve an answer.
“One thing I was a tad disappointed with, was the reaction from certain people in Ireland. That’s football and I chose to ignore it.
“Unfortunately I missed out through injury the last time but hopefully everything goes well over the next month and I’ll be okay for the Austria game.
“I’d rather just forget it. For me, it was just a silly situation.”
On his type of form, he should walk straight in to the Ireland team and pick whatever bloody position he wants. Unless Wes wants it.
In the latest GAA Hour, we talk to Ken McGrath of Waterford and with Declan Brennan about a new club players’ association.
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