Football writer Adrian Clarke identifies the key players, team tactics and where matches could be won and lost in Matchweek 22.
Learning how to cope without the brilliance of Antoine Semenyo is top of AFC Bournemouth’s agenda ahead of Monday night’s clash at Brighton & Hove Albion.
A huge miss for Bournemouth
Semenyo’s departure for Manchester City, where he has scored in two of his first three appearances, leaves a vast, unwanted hole in Bournemouth’s starting XI.
Whether he was stationed on the left or right, the wingers’ power, pace, dribbling ability and finishing prowess were consistently vital weapons.
In terms of goals alone he has been responsible for 29 per cent of Bournemouth's Premier League goals in 2025/26, making him one of the most influential forwards in the division.
Players with the highest share of their team's goals*
| Player | Player goals | Team goals | Contribution % |
| Igor Thiago (BRE) | 16 | 35 | 46 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haaland (MCI) | 20 | 45 | 44 |
| Mateta (CRY) | 8 | 22 | 36 |
| Calvert-Lewin (LEE) | 9 | 29 | 31 |
| Semenyo (BOU) | 10 | 34 | 29 |
*Stats correct before Matchweek 22
Who will replace his long throws?
The threat Bournemouth carry from long throws is set to diminish greatly.
Semenyo is one of the division’s best exponents, creating 14 shots from his 47 long throws this season.
Those numbers rank him fifth in the Premier League.
Best players for long throws in 2025/26*
| Player | Shot-ending long throws |
| Kayode (BRE) | 25 |
|---|---|
| Ampadu (LEE) | 24 |
| Mukiele (SUN) | 19 |
| Richards (CRY) | 17 |
| Semenyo (BOU) | 14 |
*Stats correct before Matchweek 22
Iraola is light on alternative throw-in takers.
The Cherries were heavily reliant on Semenyo's threat as he had taken 47 throw-ins. Defender James Hill (with five) and right-back Adam Smith (one), are the only other Bournemouth players to have attempted long throws in league action.
Tavernier to move wide?
The versatile Marcus Tavernier could be charged with the unenviable task of filling Semenyo’s boots down the Cherries left.
He can play anywhere across the three attacking midfield positions in Iraola’s 4-2-3-1 system.
Tavernier has featured down the left-wing for just 171 minutes his season and while it is not his preferred role, perhaps tellingly, he came off the bench to operate there last weekend in a 3-3 draw with Newcastle United in the FA Cup.
In the only league match Semenyo has missed for Bournemouth so far this season, a 2-2 draw with West Ham United, Iraola also selected Tavernier down that side.
So, the front four from that match: Tavernier left, David Brooks right, with Eli Junior Kroupi behind Evanilson could well become their first choice in the coming weeks, assuming Brooks overcomes a knock to face Brighton.
Who are Bournemouth’s best remaining attackers?
Tavernier is Bournemouth’s most comparable dribbler to Semenyo, producing 12 shots and eight chances from ball carries this season.
Tavernier's Premier League stats 2025/26
Brooks (five shots, nine chances from carries) and the injured Justin Kluivert (three shots, 10 chances) are the only other remaining players who come close to Semenyo’s 16 shots, three goals, 11 chances and two assists from ball carries.
Running with the ball at pace, with directness, is a key part of the Cherries’ style of play.
They have scored seven top-flight goals this season from fast breaks, which is second only to Brentford on nine.
In the other key metrics, 26-year-old Tavernier also ranks well, with Brooks, Evanilson and talented teenager Kroupi also shining brightly.
If Iraola does not opt for that quartet at the Amex Stadium, it would be a surprise.
When you lose such a significant attacking threat from your starting XI, you need others to step up, and they are best placed to do that.
Bournemouth's attackers compared 2025/26*
| Goals and assists | Chances created | Shots on target | Big chances created | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tavernier | 7 | Tavernier | 27 | Tavernier | 12 | Evanilson | 5.33 |
| Kroupi | 7 | Kluivert | 21 | Kluivert | 12 | Brooks | 4.41 |
| Evanilson | 4 | Brooks | 20 | Evanilson | 12 | Tavernier | 4.28 |
| Senesi | 4 | Senesi | 18 | Kroupi | 11 | Kroupi | 3.59 |
*scroll to see full table
The concern ahead of kick off for Iraola is a late fitness test for Brooks, who has been in terrific form for much of this campaign.
Able to play on the left or right flank, he is now even more important to Bournemouth’s head coach.
Time for Kroupi to be a regular
Bournemouth’s 19-year-old forward Kroupi will surely get more starts for the Cherries moving forward.
Watch: Kroupi's best moments from the first half of the season
With a conversion rate of just under 39 per cent, the teenager has been super-clinical in his seven starts and nine substitute appearances.
Statistically, the Frenchman is even scoring at a faster rate than Erling Haaland!
Players scoring at the fastest rate in PL 25/26 (min. five goals)*
| Player | Minutes per goal |
| Eli Junior Kroupi (BOU) | 82.0 |
|---|---|
| Erling Haaland (MCI) | 91.3 |
| Igor Thiago (BRE) | 109.6 |
| Zian Flemming (BUR) | 133.2 |
| Danny Welbeck (BHA) | 139.8 |
*Stats correct before Matchweek 22
Iraola has been patient in his approach to using Kroupi, but having lost a big goal threat, the shackles will likely come off.
He is a striker, but Bournemouth are happy deploy the youngster in a No 10 role behind Evanilson.
The pair can rotate when necessary, and consequently their 4-2-3-1 shape is more of a 4-4-1-1 or 4-4-2.
Could Kroupi play off the left, like Semenyo?
I believe he can, and it will be interesting to see if Iraola views it that way too.
While all his goals have come from central positions, he does naturally lean towards the left side, as this heat map (below) highlights nicely.
Do not be surprised if he is used as forward on the left from time to time, drifting inside to become a second striker.
Thin on numbers
Iraola will want to bring in at least one new face to bolster his attacking ranks in January.
He was already light on options, with Kluivert, Enes Unal and Ben Gannon-Doak all out injured at the moment.
If reinforcements do not arrive this month, then some of the fringe players will have to step up.
Bournemouth will want more end product from Amine Adli (one goal, one assist) and demand goal involvements from full-backs Adrien Truffert, Adam Smith and Alex Jimenez, who have produced just two assists between them.
Jimenez, who is playing well right now, could be pushed up to play as a right-winger, especially if Brooks is unavailable.
Bournemouth are set for a rejig, and the tactical decisions that Iraola makes will have a huge bearing on how they cope without Semenyo.
More importantly, those calls will directly impact how many points they claim between now and the end of the campaign.