On the off-chance they did win the ball, Arsenal’s counter-press proved too overwhelming to play through - baby-pink shirts quickly engulfing the man in possession and smothering any life out of a potential counter-attack.Īfter such a one-sided first half, it was clear changes were necessary if Bournemouth were going to come away with any pride and avoid a cricket score. With left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko drifting centrally to form a double pivot with Thomas Partey, Bournemouth players looked as if they were chasing shadows when trying to shut off the midfield supply line. This allowed Arsenal all the time on the ball they needed to play through the thirds with short, incisive passes, particularly out wide. According to, they had the second-fewest pressures in the attacking third (35) of all Premier League teams this season, with only Nottingham Forest (34) on less - and that was with many of the sides yet to play their third match either yesterday or today. With fewer bodies forward, Bournemouth did not press from the front as ferociously as they did last season. Billing won just one aerial duel all game in what proved to be a very difficult 65 minutes before he was substituted. In the continuing absence of Dominic Solanke through injury, Philip Billing was Kieffer Moore’s unofficial strike partner but played a more withdrawn second striker role similar to the one that saw him terrorise Championship defences last campaign with an impressive 10 goals and 10 assists.Īgainst Arsenal, it was clear the plan for the 6ft 4in (193cm) Danish midfielder was to supplement the 6ft 5in Moore’s hold-up play and act as the team’s focal point when long balls were pumped up to him. In practice, however, Bournemouth were toothless in attack and barely laid a glove on Mikel Arteta’s visitors for the first 45 minutes - registering two successful passes in the final third, while having 20.8 per cent possession.
In theory, one of the benefits of a back five system is you have greater numbers in defence, which makes it more difficult for opponents to break you down while also making the team less prone to being caught out by switches of play. Parker lined Bournemouth up to begin the game in the 5-3-2 formation he has earmarked since pre-season. But their approach to a first half they ended 2-0 down was markedly different to the verve and expression they showed after the break on Saturday evening.
The other? Also Bournemouth, in March 2019 - in a 1-0 loss to Manchester City under Eddie Howe.Īs was the case that day three and a half years ago, Scott Parker’s side are not really expected to take points off the biggest teams in the league.
Since the 2008-09 campaign, it is only the second time a home team had failed to do either in the opening 45 minutes of a Premier League game. Bournemouth did not have a single shot or touch of the ball inside the opposition penalty area during the first half against Arsenal.
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