Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Bournemouth: 5 key players to watch — Confidence seeps away

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 10: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal is replaced by Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal during the Carabao Cup Semi-Final First Leg match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on January 10, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 10: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal is replaced by Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal during the Carabao Cup Semi-Final First Leg match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on January 10, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 30: Lewis Cook of AFC Bournemouth in action during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Leicester City at Vitality Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 30: Lewis Cook of AFC Bournemouth in action during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Leicester City at Vitality Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images) /

4. Lewis Cook

Lewis Cook is an extremely talented player. Signed from Leeds United, captain of England’s under 20 World Cup team in the summer, the neat, tidy and reserved midfielder offers a calm and composed presence in possession, something that Howe, as a manager who has always implemented a ball-prioritised approach, is extremely keen to take advantage of.

There has been some criticism from the fans, especially earlier in the year, as he gradually worked his way into the first team. But as he has settled, so has his play, particularly in his distribution. His passing is accurate and consistent, he sees the field clearly, head swivelling, eyes scanning the pitch for potential passing options, trying to engineer the angle and lane to execute.

In games where Bournemouth will not have much of the ball, as is expected against Arsenal, it will be vital that Cook is able to play with an equal balance of discipline and distribution. He must be positionally sound, preserving his distances with his midfield partner and defence, while also initiating counter-attacks with accurate long passes into space for his attackers to work with. It is not an easy task; it is one that he must complete.