Bournemouth is an opportunity for Arsenal to begin to exert control on games for more than just 45 minutes. Bournemouth are good in certain phases of play & can cause Arsenal issues if they're not on their A game, but if Arteta's Arsenal are on form, they'll win.
Match thread π
Match thread π
Bournemouth set up in a 3-4-3 & mix between playing out from the back & playing long from goal kicks.
When they play out from the back, however, they split the centre backs either side of the goalkeeper & build with a double pivot in a 4-2-4 set up. Kelly, the LCB, becomes a LB.
When they play out from the back, however, they split the centre backs either side of the goalkeeper & build with a double pivot in a 4-2-4 set up. Kelly, the LCB, becomes a LB.
When they build play they're typically under mass pressure because they don't press high in settled play. So, this means that every time they lose possession (unless they're sustaining pressure and have the opposition pinned back) they fall back into a deep block.
Then, from there, they have to attempt to build play with the opposition on top of them in an aggressive block. A staple of possession based styles is that you must press if you want to be a possession based team.
However, despite that flaw, they press well from goal kicks.
However, despite that flaw, they press well from goal kicks.
Against teams who play a 4-3-3 (Villa, City, and Arsenal - their 3 opponents so far), their 3 man attack becomes a 1-2 with one of the forwards dropping off onto the #6, the two strikers matching up with the centre backs, and the midfield/wingbacks matching up elsewhere.
There's no doubt that Bournemouth's pressing from goal kicks is excellent, and it's undeniably a method in which they exert control on games. Although, as stated, in settled play, they don't press high and block space in a 5-4-1.
The block is compact, but it gives the oppo time.
The block is compact, but it gives the oppo time.
Here they defend diligently before trying to break quickly by using Moore, Tavernier & Christie as outlets to try and exploit the opposition in transition.
Qualitatively is where they struggle. They don't have mass quality across the park so spent most of their time w/o the ball
Qualitatively is where they struggle. They don't have mass quality across the park so spent most of their time w/o the ball
This means that they rarely use what is their biggest strength, and that's pressing from opposition goal kicks. They also lack the technical quality to build play out from the back so often punt the ball long in an attempt to use transitions/gain settled possession that way.
They're a combative team who can cause issues on set pieces and in duels with the height of guys like Moore and the general tenacity around that along with the set piece delivery of Christie, but overall they're an average side. Arsenal *WILL* average 60+% of the ball.
Arsenal can score in too many ways and take control of the game in a variety of formats to make a Bournemouth result unlikely.
It's not impossible that they get a result, because likelihoods mean little in football (see Liverpool vs Fulham and Palace), but it's highly unlikely.
It's not impossible that they get a result, because likelihoods mean little in football (see Liverpool vs Fulham and Palace), but it's highly unlikely.
Arsenal will have to be brave to use their technical quality to play through their compact pressing from goal kicks but if they bypass that they will largely prevent the game from becoming chaotic. If they don't, however, BOU could sneak a goal and defend in their 5-4-1 all game.
They could do the same off the back of a counter-attack or after a transitional situation after winning a long ball or after playing through Arsenal's press or after sustaining some pressure, but that's all quite unlikely considering their lack of quality & Arsenal's compactness.
What's more likely is that Bournemouth will gain few opportunities to press high from goal kicks, that they won't score from their other low percentages of chance creation, and that Arsenal will control proceedings as a result of that. From there, they can use their qualities.
Arsenal will likely press Bournemouth off the park from goal kicks but have to be aggressive to match their double pivot. Arsenal press in a 4-4-2 which is suited to matching up well against Bournemouth's 4-2-4, but Γdegaard has to step onto the CB and Partey/Xhaka onto the pivot
Arsenal also have to be mindful of duel situations after Bournemouth go long from goal kicks so they can exploit them in transition or continue to or mount sustained pressure. Apart from that though, the primary theme will undoubtedly be Arsenal sustaining pressure vs BOU's 5-4-1
Arsenal will sustain that pressure through the fact that Bournemouth invite pressure by playing out from the back but also when considering that they don't press high in settled play. Arsenal's positional play and ability to break down blocks is fantastic when sustaining attacks.
Overall, Bournemouth are a decently well-drilled team but have one too many tactical & qualitative flaws to make it likely that they'll get a result against a fantastically technical Arsenal team.
This game will be a good opportunity for Arsenal to dominate the ball for 90 mins.
This game will be a good opportunity for Arsenal to dominate the ball for 90 mins.
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