#49 - Three lessons learned from dismal defeat at Bournemouth

Three things I learned about our squad in the wake of a disappointing weekend

Well that wasn’t great, was it?

A line up that had many concerned before kick off, was compounded by huge individual errors to see Arsenal fall to their first defeat of the season. And it was very much self-inflicted.

But even before the sending off, Arsenal looked off-colour. Today, I look at three of the main things I think Mikel must take from the game.

1 - Trossard must play centrally, not wide

With Gabriel Martinelli not 100% fit, Leandro Trossard was shifted out to play on the left.

In the absence of Martin Odegaard, Trossard and Kai Havertz have been dovetailing perfectly in the centre. By removing Leo from this, it broke an established connection on a day where Arsenal were lacking familiarity in build up.

Trossard’s lack of pace has always made him a bit less of a comfortable fit in the exterior, with his best football coming when he can combine, and finish from central areas.

He just looks less comfortable in wide areas and it was from this position where his poor pass led to the devastating sending off of William Saliba.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Jesus has shown his better form from the flanks recently. In future, Leo should play centrally with Jesus filling in on the left or right to accommodate.

My preference to see Trossard centrally is why I have always wanted Arsenal to add a top level winger to compete and rotate with Martinelli and Saka. With both out, Arsenal were forced to use a undercooked Sterling and unnatural Trossard, and simply put, it’s not good enough.

2 - Nwaneri must be trusted to start in these scenarios

Mikel Merino came in for his first start, and from a seniority point of view, you could understand it.

But if Arteta was going to move Leo, a great connector, from central zones, and be without the injured Bukayo Saka, Arsenal needed a player with connectivity and guile in central zones.

This was the perfect opportunity for Ethan Nwaneri to come in and start.

Arsenal’s key connectors in the final third have been Saka, Odegaard and Trossard, and Arteta had none of them for this game (after shifting Leo left).

Ethan, in his cameos to date, has shown a pitch presence well beyond his years and looks by far the best fit to deputise for Odegaard. His ball retention even makes him a decent candidate to play in Saka’s role if needed. With both of these out, I would certainly have started Ethan.

There is understandable desire to get the new signing of Merino on the pitch, but a midfield trio of Declan Rice, Thomas Partey and Merino does not have the right balance. At least one of Odegaard, Trossard, or Nwaneri is needed in that central mix.

Hopefully Nwaneri starts against Shakhtar and again shows his qualities to the manager.

3 - Timber is more important than many think

I think it’s gone under the radar how good Jurrien Timber has been for us so far this season. With William Saliba’s suspension, it will be interesting to see if the Dutch international comes into the vacant central role (if he is fit).

Ben White has been an excellent signing and servant for Arsenal and he will continue to start many games, but I can’t help but feel Timber is a level up as a right back. Timber offers a physicality and technical unpredictability that others can’t in that position.

When it comes to deputising for Gabriel, Arsenal have Riccardo Calafiori and Jakub Kiwior. To fill in for the now suspended Saliba at right centre-back, Arsenal have three options: Kiwior, White and Timber.

Kiwior would be last choice for me, he looks uncomfortable centrally on the big occasion, especially on his less natural right side.

Presuming both are fit, I expect White and Timber will play, but one will be central and the other right back. It’s going to be interesting to see which Arteta opts for, as that will indicate who he views as Saliba’s stand-in.

All this shows how important Timber is to the side. In certain matchups, he is potentially Arsenal’s best left-back and right-back, and could be the first substitute centrally.

The 23-year-old is coming off the back of a major injury last season, so the club must be careful, but they will be desperate to have him back for the Liverpool game on Sunday.