Adrian Clarke picks out key battles between players and teams going head-to-head in Matchweek 32.
Team analysis - AFC Bournemouth
The Cherries have attacked their scrap for Premier League safety with relish and a sense of bold adventure.
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Retaining a positive energy, even when results have not gone their way, the Cherries have tried to maintain a front-foot approach during their quest for vital points.
Gary O’Neil’s side host West Ham United this Sunday in a high-stakes encounter, buoyed by four wins from their last six Premier League matches.
Bouncing back well from the heartbreak of losing to Reiss Nelson's late winner in a 3-2 defeat at Arsenal, AFC Bournemouth have stayed upbeat.
From a chance-creation perspective, this outlook has transformed their attacking threat.
They have exceeded 1.3 Expected Goals (xG) in eight of their last 11 matches, having surpassed that figure only three times in their opening 20 fixtures.
Taking 16 points since the start of February, compared with 17 points beforehand, O’Neil’s team have been rewarded for their proactive style.
If they had been more clinical with their finishing, would they already be sitting comfortably in mid-table? AFC Bournemouth have underperformed in comparison with their Expected Goals tally during this period.
AFC Bournemouth xG averages 22/23
| MW1-20 | MW21-31 | |
| Total xG | 15.7 | 16.2 |
|---|---|---|
| Total goals | 19 | 12 |
| Ave. xG | 0.8 | 1.5 |
| Ave. goals | 0.9 | 1.2 |
Another key difference since the start of February has been the number of tactical game-changers at O’Neil’s disposal.
The Cherries recruited smartly in January, adding players such as Dango Ouattara, Hamed Traore and Matias Vina to their ranks.
Ouattara has been a revelation at times, scoring once and providing three assists.
Ouattara's winner v Spurs
Every. Single. Angle. 😍
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) April 18, 2023
Take it away, @DangoOuattara 🤌 pic.twitter.com/vniSl8ltVu
He regularly gets into the box from the wings, averaging 4.78 touches per 90, which ranks second in the team behind striker Dominic Solanke.
Attacking midfielder Traore has energised the side with his skill in flashes, while wing-back Vina was outstanding at Tottenham Hotspur last time out, scoring on his full debut.
All three recruits have offered O'Neil a fresh creative option, either from the start of matches or off the bench.
Attacking influences/90
| Chances created open play | Total shots | Completed dribbles | |||
| Solanke | 2.49 | Traore | 1.47 | Vina | 9.55 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ouattara | 1.91 | Vina | 1.36 | Traore | 3.36 |
| Tavernier | 1.80 | Ouattara | 1.17 | Ouattara | 2.23 |
West Ham are likely to provide stubborn opposition, but it is clear AFC Bournemouth will not be fazed by the task in hand.
They will set their stall out to score goals and win the match.
Also in this series
Part 1: Can Saints exploit weakness in Arsenal's midfield shape?
Part 3: Spurs' full-backs can pose problems for Newcastle