Arsenal Faces Tough Test Against Bournemouth
Arsenal travels to Bournemouth this weekend for what promises to be a challenging match for Mikel Arteta’s squad. The Spanish manager is confronted with a tricky decision in midfield, particularly regarding the positions of Thomas Partey and new signing Mikel Merino.
The Gunners have started the season on a strong note, accumulating 17 points from their first seven Premier League fixtures, placing them third and just one point behind league leaders Liverpool. Their visit to the south coast comes ahead of a demanding run of matches, including a home game against Liverpool and away fixtures at Chelsea and Newcastle. Given the upcoming challenges, Arteta needs to solidify his midfield trio before these critical games and may consider replacing Partey with Merino.
Partey’s Inconsistency
Partey has had an inconsistent season thus far . Although Arteta has shown faith in him by starting all seven of Arsenal’s league and Champions League matches, it remains unclear where he fits in the squad as a whole, especially with both Merino and Martin Ødegaard out injured in recent weeks. Merino is now available after recovering from a shoulder injury he sustained during his first training session, which puts him in a prime position to replace Partey against Bournemouth.
Signed from Real Sociedad for around £33 million, Merino is eager to make his full debut for the Gunners. Introducing him on Saturday would allow Declan Rice to return to his more natural role and provide Arsenal with a greater physical presence in the opposition penalty area. Arteta has spoken highly of Merino, labeling him as a ‘really talented player in every phase’ who adds ‘physicality’ to the team.
Performance Statistics
Despite earning around £200,000 a week, Partey has faced criticism for a lackluster performance against Atalanta last month, which may reflect his overall form this season. While he excels on the ball, completing 87.6% of his passes, he has struggled defensively, leaving the team exposed at times due to his lack of athleticism.
Here’s a comparison of the 2023/24 season statistics for both players:
- Appearances: Merino: 32, Partey: 14
- Goals: Merino: 5, Partey: 0
- Assists: Merino: 3, Partey: 0
- Shots Per 90: Merino: 1.09, Partey: 0.91
- Pass Accuracy: Merino: 76.2%, Partey: 92.2%
- Progressive Passes Per 90: Merino: 5.91, Partey: 8 yvette cooper.18
- Key Passes Per 90: Merino: 0.72, Partey: 0.68
- Tackles Per 90: Merino: 2.79, Partey: 1.59
- Interceptions Per 90: Merino: 0.58, Partey: 1 leyton orient vs peterborough.25
Trossard Under Fire
While Arteta has a midfield dilemma to solve, the attack appears largely settled harrogate town vs liverpool u-21. In Ødegaard’s absence, Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz have formed a front two, flanked by Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli. However, Arteta may not feel reassured after Trossard’s recent performance for Belgium, where he faced criticism for his ‘crazy clumsiness’ in a disappointing outing against France.
In that Nations League match, Trossard took five shots but failed to convert, a stark contrast to his form last season when he scored 17 goals for his club.
Will Arteta make the right choice with his midfield ahead of this crucial fixture hell is us?
Tags: Arsenal, Thomas Partey, Mikel Merino, Premier League, Leandro Trossard
