Jaidon Anthony labelled his Premier League debut as a “special day” even if Cherries’ 3-0 defeat to Arsenal was “disappointing”. Two first half goals from Martin Odegaard effectively decided the result 10 minutes into the game, leaving Cherries head coach Scott Parker to switch tactics at half-time. The winger was introduced as a half-time substitute for Marcos Senesi, seeing Cherries move from a 3-5-1-1 to a 4-3-3, with Anthony deployed on the left-wing. William Saliba added a third shortly before the hour mark, but Cherries were notably improved in the second period. Reflecting on his first taste of Premier League football,
Jaidon Anthony said: “It was disappointing, the first half, for the team. They punished us very quickly and we didn’t really get near them too much. So, we just wanted to try and make an impact in the second half, and get around them and I thought we’d done a bit better. Obviously disappointing result, but a special day. We didn’t really get too close to them in the first half and the manager just wanted to try and get near them, get around them and I think the new formation definitely helped. It was a disappointing day overall. We’ll learn from that, for sure.”
Released by Arsenal as a youngster, Anthony was playing non-league football with Weymouth just over two years ago. Despite his meteoric rise and breakthrough into Cherries’ first team and promotion to the Premier League, the Hackney-born winger is remaining level headed. When asked how he was feeling after becoming a Premier League player,
Jaidon Anthony said: “I guess the same old Jaidon! Obviously a special day and one I dreamed of for a long time. I just want to get my head down and hopefully have a big impact this season, and get some more game time.”
CHERRIES star Jaidon Anthony insists he holds “no real bitterness” towards Arsenal, despite the north London club releasing him as a 16-year-old.
Jaidon Anthony said: “Yeah, definitely. I have no real bitterness. I understand why the club did what they did in terms of releasing me at that time. But it’s definitely an exciting prospect, and to go back to the Emirates (in March) and hopefully put on a good performance and have a good time there. All games are really exciting for me. Obviously this is what I’ve dreamed of as a kid to play in the Premier League and it’s a big opportunity and hopefully we can have a good successful year.”
Anthony is yet to get a taste of top-flight football, having been an unused substitute in each of Cherries’ opening two matches of the campaign. Quizzed on the levels required in the Premier League, from his watching position on the bench,
Jaidon Anthony said: “Obviously we knew that coming in, and hopefully I can get my chance soon, to make an impact. I’ll be ready whenever.”
Discussing the possibility of his Premier League debut coming against Arsenal,
Jaidon Anthony said: “To be honest, I’ve been pushing for every game, but as soon as that game came up, I was looking forward to it. Hopefully I can have a special day there, and I can make an impact.”
Coach Scott Parker insisted the levels had gone up for Jaidon Anthony and the rest of Cherries’ squad but said: “Hopefully, he has a role to play this year for us.” Anthony burst on to the scene at Cherries under Parker last season, scoring eight times and registering six assists to help the Dorset club earn promotion from the Championship. Having missed just one league game last term, the 22-year-old winger is yet to feature in Cherries’ opening two Premier League contests. He was an unused substitute in the opening-day win against Aston Villa and a 4-0 defeat at Manchester City last time out. Asked how big a role Anthony could play for his side this season,
Scott Parker said: “Hopefully he can, for sure. Definitely the levels have gone up, of course. Jaidon has had a good pre-season and I think like anything regarding myself and team selection – I pick players who I feel are best fit to certain games. Players who have shown me during the week or the start of the week that they are in the right frame of mind and certainly training the right way. And Jaidon, for sure, will have opportunities this year and hopefully he can take (to) the Premier League like he did last year. He is in probably a similar position in what he was last year in terms of the step up and how he can be. He is now in that position again with the transition of Championship to Prem. Hopefully he can do that.”
Should Anthony make his Premier League debut for Cherries at Vitality Stadium today (5.30pm), it would come against the side in Arsenal who released him as a 16-year-old. The Hackney-born star signed for Cherries in 2016 and has progressed through the ranks at the Dorset club. Asked how much credit Anthony deserved for never losing belief following his release,
Scott Parker replied: “Everything Jaidon did last year is all down to him. He had some setbacks along the way, been released from Arsenal. I gave him an opportunity. I didn’t play the game for him. I didn’t make him come in everyday or I wasn’t the one actually on the field. That was all down to him. I gave him the opportunity and tried to help him and tried to coach him. But, ultimately, he deserves full credit for everything he’s done. At this present moment in time, he’s not found himself in and around the side but certainly, hopefully, he has a role to play this year for us.”
