Really promising signs.
Harry Arter has looked like a class act ever since he made his way into Martin O’Neill’s Ireland squad for the snoozefest that was the friendly against England at the Aviva in June 2015.
Granted, the Bournemouth midfielder’s opportunities in a green shirt have been somewhat limited through a combination of the strength of the players in his position and the injury that ruled the 26-year-old out of Euro 2016.
But there are signs this season that Arter has kicked on once more and is becoming that most cherished thing: a central midfielder who can control the tempo of a game, dictate the play and keep possession.
Certainly they were all elements of the game that were most distinctly lacking from Ireland’s draw in Serbia earlier this month and so you would have to think that there is a big chance Arter could feature prominently in the World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Moldova in October.
On Saturday, Arter again excelled in Eddie Howe’s midfield, dominating the game against the likes of Ross Barkley, Gareth Barry and Idrissa Gueye.
Junior Stansilas’ stunning 23rd minute goal secured victory for Bournemouth against an Everton side who have looked extremely strong in the opening stages of the Premier League.
Arter provided the assist for the goal but it was his all round display that impressed Martin Keown in the Match of the Day studio.
We have no visuals to accompany his words but picture in your mind a series of threaded through balls, driving runs from deep midfield and whipped, inch-perfect passes with his trusty left boot and you get the gist.
“This is a player who was bought from Woking and he’s come through the divisions, a couple of promotions, and he’s part of the success story,” Keown said.
“He’s a player that gets better every time I see him. He’s a real driving force, he can play, don’t worry about that. He can see a pass. If an opportunity comes his way he’s take it.
“Look at that. If that was Jack Wilshere we would all be applauding that pass, great vision. We should be applauding it anyway.
“The door opens for him here, he runs with it and cracks his shot against the post.
“And this is the goal. OK, great finish from Stanislas, but look at the pass. He whips it, he takes two Everton players out of he game and without that pass he doesn’t score.”
Let’s just hope Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane were watching.
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