Arsenal have started their pre-season games with a win. The club is preparing to take down Manchester City and win the Premier League title for the first time since 2004. Arsenal defeated Bournemouth in the Dignity Health Sports Park, California. However they were not able to grab a win in 90 minutes. The score was leveled at 1-1 and the outcome was decided on penalties. Gunners won 5-4 on penalties.
Arsenal were slightly better in possesion as they kept 56% possesion. However Bournemouth had more shots and chances created. Passing accuracy was pretty much similar and so were the shots on target. Bournemouth had an upper hand when it came to defending. Except interceptions they achieved more numbers in all of the defensive attributes. Fabio Vieira gave Arsenal lead in the 18th minute. However, Antoine Semenyo equalised for Bournemouth in the 73rd minute. Despite losing on penalties, Bournemouth were better team throughout the 90 minutes. Arsenal will now face Manchester United before facing Liverpool FC. The Gunners will hope to improve their performance on the pitch. Let’s take a look at their player ratings in match against Bournemouth.
Defensive players
Karl Hein started as a keeper for Arsenal as David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale are unavailable. Hein did a great job and was the player of the match. He achieved 7.4 rating. Hein made 3 saves along with achieving 87% accuracy in passing. Hein’s long balls were very effective with 60% success rate. He made 2 saves in the penalty shootout making Arsenal winners of the match.
Arsenal’s defensive line started with Ben White on right side and Myles Lewis-Skelly on the left side. Jurrien Timber and Ayden Heaven were the two centre backs. White, Timber and Heaven achieved the rating of 6.8 each whilst Lewis-Skelly achieved 6.9 rating. Omar Rekik, Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Josh Nicolas were brought in as substitutes. Rekik was rated at 5.3, Kiwior at 6.1 and Zinchenko and Nicolas achieved rating of 6.2 each.
Arsenal midfielders against Bournemouth
Arsenal started the game with three midfielders as they played with classic lineup of 4-3-3. Thomas Partey, Salah Oulad M’hand and Fabio Vieira started the game. Partey who is linked with move away from Emirates had a good game and managed to achieve 6.8 rating. M’hand was rated at 6.1 while Vieira achieved the best rating amongst the team. Vieira was rated 7.5 after his amazing left footed goal in the first half.
Mikel Arteta brought in Martin Odegaard and Jorginho in the second half. In addition, Jimi Gower was introduced late in the game. However he was unable to achieve any rating due to very less gametime. Odegaard who is Arsenal captain achieved 6.5 rating. Jorginho who signed a contract extension with the club achieved 6.7 rating.
Attackers
To begin with, Arsenal started the game against Bournemouth with an attacking trip of Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah and Ethan Nwaneri. Despite being reported of agreeing personal terms with Olympique Marseille, Nketiah started the game. He played 63 minutes and achieved 6.7 rating. Reiss Nelson had a good game as he assisted Vieira’s opening goal. He earned 7.1 as rating. Ethan Nwaneri played 84 minuted and achieved the rating of 7.
Mikel Arteta brought in Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard and Charles Sagoe Junior. Firstly, Jesus and Trossard both achieved the rating of 6. Lastly 20 year old Sagoe Jr achieved slightly better rating than both of them. He achieved 6.2 as rating against Bournemouth. All of the stats and ratings are according to FOTMOB.
In addition of pre-season games, Arsenal are focused on improving their squad. They have finally completed the signing of Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna. To conclude, the club will now focus on signing midfielder and striker. Mikel Merino is heavily linked with a move to North London.
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