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 – DECEMBER 17: Nathan Ake of AFC Bournemouth prepares to take a throw in during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool at Vitality Stadium on December 17, 2017 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 17: Nathan Ake of AFC Bournemouth prepares to take a throw in during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool at Vitality Stadium on December 17, 2017 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

2. Nathan Ake

As hammered home in this piece, the key battle in this fixture will be when Arsenal are in possession: Can the Gunners play patiently and precisely enough to prise open Bournemouth, create chances, and score goals? Many of the players that I have highlighted have focused on Arsenal and their play in possession. But what is equally important is Bournemouth’s ability to defend, not just on their opponent’s skill to attack.

Defending is not an individual task. It pains me when analysts, journalists, fans, and pundits highlight the performance of one defender, whether it be positive or negative. Defending is all about the collective. It is not something that Bournemouth are especially astute at. They have conceded 34 goals in just 22 games this season.

So I don’t want to just highlight one player. That would be an oversight of mine. But this piece isn’t called ‘5 key players’ for nothing. So I will provide the name of Nathan Ake. But, in all honesty, I use him to represent the Bournemouth defence as a whole and the task they have of remaining structured in their position as Arsenal try to pull them out of it with their sharp, incisive passing.