The Bournemouth player that could give Arsenal problems on Saturday

Bournemouth have been tipped by the vast majority to go straight back down to the Championship after they earned automatic promotion to the top flight in 2021/22.

The Cherries’ lack of summer business has concerned many, including manager Scott Parker, while their reliance on Dominic Solanke for a source of goals could prove costly. Solanke starred in the second tier last season, scoring 29 times, but his Premier League record is nothing short of abysmal. The 24-year-old has scored just four goals in 64 top flight appearances, although many of those did come off the substitute’s bench.

Nevertheless, Parker’s side did silence some critics on the opening weekend of the season as they beat a hapless Aston Villa 2-0 on home soil before their momentum was sapped by a visit to the champions on Matchday 2. Despite the renowned unpredictability of the Premier League, this was a contest Bournemouth simply didn’t have a shot in, and they were hamstrung by the unavailability of Solanke, who picked up an ankle injury.

They ‘escaped’ with a 4-0 defeat.

The Bournemouth player that could give Arsenal problems on Saturday

The Cherries will now return to familiar, less ominous surroundings on Saturday, but they’ll be hosting a side that could be described as Manchester City lite given the principles of their respective coaches.

Following a productive pre-season, Arsenal have continued their momentum into the start of 2022/23 by winning their opening two Premier League games. The Gunners look to be a different beast from last season, with former City boys Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko transforming Mikel Arteta’s side at both ends of the pitch.

The feeling surrounding the club is nothing but positive heading into Saturday’s clash at the Vitality, but the injury to Solanke and his likely absence means Arsenal will have to mitigate the threat of a forward who’s cut from the same cloth as those who have caused Gunners issues in the past.

Kieffer Moore is no superstar. Far from it. The Welsh international’s highest goal return in a single league season in 20, and, at 30, he’s competing in the Premier League for the very first time. However, Moore is a physical behemoth and we’ve seen this sort of striker bully Arsenal defences in the years gone by. Remember Ivan Toney against Ben White on 2021/22 opening night?

Standing at over 6’3, Moore is a huge presence and he also boasts the athleticism to run in behind. For William Saliba, who’s positioning, recovery speed and work with the ball have been exemplary in the first two weeks, Saturday will be a litmus test of his aerial capacity. The Frenchman’s career aerial duel success rate is an impressive 66.7% which is matched by his centre-back partner, Gabriel.

Scott Parker isn’t the sort of manager that will want to play long ball into Moore, but such a ploy might be necessary if Arsenal begin to assert their dominance in a way which we know they can. Arteta’s side must be aggressive throughout Saturday’s contest, retain a high defensive line, and ensure they stay composed in possession. Suffocate the Cherries, prevent Moore from getting in the box and dominate the game from minute one. That should be the plan: the Manchester City blueprint.

At the Etihad, Moore was limited to 30 touches as Bournemouth nothced a meagre 0.1 xG in their 4-0 defeat. The Welsh forward did, however, win five of his seven aerial duels but the vast majority of these wins came away from the City box and the Cherries lack the in behind threat to make the most of any flick ons. What Moore’s aerial ability can do, though, is ensure Bournemouth are able to bypass Arsenal’s press and get them up the field. Arsenal can afford Moore to win the initial header, but they must pounce on the second ball which means that Thomas Partey could have a big role to play in this one.

The Gunners need control for Arteta’s progressive principles to manifest and, on paper, Moore is the greatest threat to said control. The 30-year-old, who scored off the bench against Villa, is a throwback profile with a modern twist and while he isn’t prolific, he’ll provide a unique test for this much-improved Arsenal defence.