[FREE READ] How Arsenal’s technical shortcomings prevented them and David Raya from playing out

"We did a lot of strange things today…

"There were basic things that we did extremely badly against a team that when you do that they are going to capitalise."

That was Mikel Arteta after Arsenal's disappointing defeat to Bournemouth.

One area they really struggled was playing out from the back through David Raya.

Bournemouth’s hybrid press centred around forcing their opponents to build through Gabriel, who is less proficient on the ball compared to his centre-back partner William Saliba.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth’s left winger Marcus Tavernier acted as a bouncer on the doorway to Arsenal’s midfield to ensure goalkeeper David Raya didn’t have easy access to these positions. And, in case Arsenal managed to work the ball towards the right side of their defence, Tavernier could sprint back to cover Ben White.