Arter pumped for Bournemouth midfield battle

Harry Arter insists Bournemouth’s fresh midfield blood is providing him with a new lease of life after a season plagued by niggling injuries.

Republic of Ireland international Arter has been at the heart of the Cherries’ midfield for half a decade and says the new competition for places will push him to new heights.

Eddie Howe has brought in Chelsea’s versatile 21-year-old Nathan Aké on a season-long loan, as well as 20-year-old USA international Emerson Hyndman from Fulham, with Howe looking to push on from last season’s 16th-place Premier League finish.

(Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

England Under-19s star Lewis Cook – a £10million signing from Leeds United – is arguable the most promising of the lot and though Arter is not exactly over the hill at 26, he admits the enthusiastic youngsters are spurring him on.

“I wouldn’t say I’m worried. I`ve been here for six years and I don’t think there has been one year where we haven’t signed one or two central midfielders,” Arter said.

“The added competition is something I thrive on – it’s made me the player I am. We all have to rise to the quality the manager brings in and up until now I feel myself and my team-mates have done that.

“That’s probably why Bournemouth have been so successful in recent years. No matter who the manager brings in, the players always rise to the challenge.”