Mikel Arteta believes Kai Havertz nonetheless has an additional degree to succeed in after having fun with a wonderful begin to the season with Arsenal, who go to Bournemouth when the Premier League resumes on Saturday.
Arsenal emerge from the second worldwide break of 2024-25 one level adrift of Liverpool on the high of the Premier League desk with 17 factors from seven matches.
With 4 targets and an help, Havertz has been a key issue of their optimistic begin, excelling in his new false 9 function and scoring a vital equaliser as they fought again to beat Southampton 3-1 earlier than the hiatus.
Requested if Havertz was now enjoying with higher confidence, Arteta stated: “You possibly can inform. He takes the ball and he runs with the ball.
“He’s on the excessive press, he goes full gasoline, the best way he holds the ball, the positions he takes within the field. When he performs as a 9, you don’t know the place he’s, that’s his soccer mind.
“His focus now’s, ‘I’m going to win the sport, I’m going to do it’, and that’s a distinct factor.
“He desires extra and he’s not happy with what he’s doing as a result of there’s nonetheless, I believe, one other degree from him.”
Opponents Bournemouth are 14th with eight factors, having suffered a demoralising 1-0 defeat to beforehand winless Leicester Metropolis two weeks in the past.
After that recreation, boss Andoni Iraola instructed BBC Sport: “It’s troublesome to elucidate, it is advisable rating. We had a disallowed purpose, hit the publish, the crossbar, we had sufficient possibilities to win.
“Now we have to offer advantage to their offensive aspect however on the opposite aspect we’re lacking very clear possibilities. There are possibilities that you just can not miss altogether.
“Now we have to be extra medical and it’s hurting us. All of the video games other than Liverpool we’ve created extra possibilities, however we aren’t getting the factors.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Bournemouth – Antoine Semenyo
Bournemouth have had extra shot-ending excessive turnovers than some other aspect within the Premier League this season (18), whereas solely three sides have confronted fewer such photographs than the Cherries (six).
Semenyo, who leads all Bournemouth gamers for purpose involvements (4 – three targets, one help) and profitable dribbles (12) this time period may have a key function to play on the counter.
Arsenal – Kai Havertz
Havertz has been concerned in 20 targets in his final 21 Premier League appearances (13 targets, seven assists).
His first purpose for Arsenal got here on this actual fixture final season, as he transformed a penalty in a 4-0 victory for the Gunners. May he be in for extra pleasure on the south coast?
MATCH PREDICTION – ARSENAL WIN
Arsenal are unbeaten in all 10 of their video games in all competitions to date this season (seven wins, three attracts) – they final had an extended unbeaten run from the beginning of a marketing campaign in 2007-08 (first 21).
They’re chasing a landmark victory, as their 3-1 win over Southampton final outing was their 1,999th top-flight triumph. Victory right here would see them turn out to be the second English aspect to succeed in 2,000, after Liverpool (2,065).
Bournemouth, in the meantime, have misplaced 11 of their 14 Premier League video games in opposition to Arsenal, although all three exceptions have been at dwelling (3-3 in January 2017, 2-1 in January 2018, 1-1 in December 2019).
However a repeat shouldn’t be anticipated right here. Every of Bournemouth’s final 10 Premier League wins have been in opposition to sides within the backside half of the desk.
Andoni Iraola’s males are winless of their final 11 matches in opposition to sides within the high half since beating Manchester United 3-0 in December final 12 months (4 attracts, seven losses).
Arsenal boast an amazing document in opposition to the Cherries currently, too. Since Bournemouth returned to the Premier League in 2022, the Gunners have gained all 4 of their conferences with the Cherries by an mixture rating 13-2, netting three or extra targets every time.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Bournemouth – 16.1%
Arsenal – 65.2%
Draw – 18.7%
