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Arsenal's unbeaten run continues, with a good win on England's South Coast in Bournemouth.
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Bournemouth, under Eddie Howe, has done very well and have surprised a number with their high league position. Whilst they may not challenge for the top four, they can be confident of a Europa League placement - if they sustain their form. Eddie Howe has been touted for jobs at bigger clubs for a while, and he may well be primed for one should Bournemouth do well this season.
However, today, Arsenal possibly emerged as the rightful winner. Bournemouth started strongly, with a goal that was wrongly struck off as offside. They did put on a strong performance in the early 20 minutes or so, but after that, Arsenal upped their tempo, culminating in an opener for the Gunners.
Kolasinac proved a thorn in their side throughout the game, and his low cross was converted by Lerma, who had no choice really but to play the ball. It was unlucky on his part that the ball went in, but at that specific point in the game, Arsenal was on top.
Bournemouth equalized though, following Iwobi losing possession in the Bournemouth penalty area. They then counter-attacked, and King scored a curling effort in the Arsenal box to keep it at 1-1 at the break.
Arsenal increased their attacking play in the second half - Kolasinac, Aubameyang, and Mkhitaryan, all had chances. Bournemouth had opportunities via Stanislas and Lerma, but Arsenal took the lead following some good play between Iwobi and Kolasinac.
Despite some late pressure from the home side, Arsenal held on for another away win.
Arsenal is again unbeaten, and with their good "friends" Tottenham coming up very soon, a win here was welcome and needed.
Here are the 5 takeaways from the game:
Arsenal's Tactical flexibility
The formation from Emery surprised fans and pundits alike, as he opted for a back three featuring Sokratis, Holding, and Mustafi. This was opposed to a back four, featured in many games this season.
The idea was to not just handle Bournemouth's attack but to control the midfield and allow Bellerin and Kolasinac to get forward. Arsenal's attacking prowess won the game in the end, but the formation shift showed that Emery is willing to alter formations, and in some ways is being an "anti-latter Wenger". Whilst Arsene Wenger is rightly lauded and adulated for his exploits at the club, the final seasons under him showed both tactical and mental weaknesses.
Part of these critiques was that he didn't change formations often, and this allowed the team to be easily countered.
But the change in formation is interesting since it shows a reliability on various means to play, and it's something that Arsenal have needed for some years.
Whether the three at the back will persist is unknown - but it's still intriguing to see, and shows a tactical variety lacking in recent years.
Poor starts continue to haunt the Gunners
Arsenal again started slowly, with Bournemouth having a goal ruled out for offside, albeit wrongly according to the TV pundits. Mustafi apparently kept their player onside, and this has strengthened the hand for VAR's introduction.
However, Arsenal got lucky in this instance, and again it typified another weak start. It is something that could be a negative if a better side can exploit this.
Is it deliberate? Or is it due to a lack of planning? Either way, the team is able to recover well, and if it is deliberate, it's a very smart move.
It could also be luck, but if it is Arsenal still hold the firepower to overcome an early deficit. It hasn't been a major issue thus far. But it is something requiring correction, given the evident risks involved.
In contrast, though, Arsenal did get more into the game after 20 minutes or so, and this proves the above point somewhat. And this paid off via the own goal.
Aubameyang is on the Golden Boot hunt
This game was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's tenth goal for Arsenal this season, and since he joined in January of this year, he's scored 20 goals in 31 games. He hasn't been playing in his optimum position this season, but still has scored at a high rate. To date, he is top of the Premier League scoring charts and joint top with Sergio Aguero, and is a strong contender for the Premier League Golden Boot.
He could readily win the Golden Boot this season, and at this rate, he is the heir to Ian Wright and Thierry Henry in his prolific nature. It can be said that Aubameyang is doing well to score often, despite his own misplacement in the team. This is a testament to his quality, and also adaptability, in that he can still get on the end of chances, and be a potent force in the side.
Arsenal needs him and his strike partner Lacazette firing to get top four, and on this form, it would be primed to get this.
Mkhitaryan poor, Iwobi good, Leno strong, Kolasinac redeemed
Mkhitaryan is a sound player technically. However, he didn't impress at Manchester United, and he hasn't thus far at Arsenal.
Versus Bournemouth, he did try to utilise the ball, but his end product wasn't forthcoming. This has been apparent for months now, and he really needs to step it up.
Iwobi, in contrast, was very good and did provide in the final third. He ensured Kolasinac had a pass to make to Aubameyang for the winner, and he linked up well with the wide men and Aubameyang to create openings in both halves. Iwobi has enhanced this season and looks bulkier than before. If he sustains this over the long-term, he can be a world class player. It may seem like hype, but he has begun to fulfill his long-term potential.
Bernd Leno was strong in this game and has been since he took Cech's starting place. He has looked very assured, strong in the air, and is a capable handler. He can be an asset for both Arsenal and Germany for years to come.
Kolasinac, however, redeemed his poor performance vs. Wolves, and was instrumental in providing Arsenal's width today. He is an adept wing-back, due to his pace, strength, tenacity, and crossing ability. He had a strong hand in both goals, and one must hope that his poor game vs. Wolves was an anomaly.
Overall, Arsenal didn't perform to their optimum at Bournemouth, but it was a professional win nonetheless. With the next league game against Spurs, and their stellar win over Chelsea, the first North London Derby of the season will be a closely contested game. Both sides have players who can cause major damage to the other, and it will be battle in various areas.
But for this game, Arsenal did was needed to be done, and were worthy winners, ultimately.
