Arsenal's Creative Drought: Will it Prove Costly in the Title Race?

Welcome to The Debrief, a Sky Sports column where Adam Bate analyzes the key stories from the latest Premier League matches using a mix of data and opinion. This week, the focus is on Arsenal's concerning performance against Bournemouth, which has put the title back in the balance. Despite Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth displaying some impressive football, Mikel Arteta's team struggled to create chances, with an expected goals total from open play of just 0.18. Their reliance on set-pieces, which has been a theme throughout the campaign, was evident, but it ultimately hindered their momentum. The Gunners spent a significant amount of time preparing for corners and throw-ins, with 26 minutes and 48 seconds of the match spent with the ball dead. While their formula has taken them to the top of the Premier League table, it has resulted in a 'bitty' game, and this was not an isolated incident. In fact, Arsenal have had more matches with an open-play expected goals total of 0.3 or lower than Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea combined. This lack of creativity from open play could prove problematic, especially if Manchester City goes on a winning streak. Meanwhile, West Ham's 4-0 win over Wolves has moved them out of the relegation zone, thanks in part to Jarrod Bowen's two assists. Bowen has been consistent in his output, with eight goals and eight assists in the Premier League this season, and he ranks among the top half a dozen players in the league for goal involvements since joining West Ham in January 2020. His reliability and robustness make him a talisman for the team, and he is well-placed to join an exclusive club if he can finish the season strongly. Elsewhere, Sunderland's Brian Brobbey impressed in their 1-0 win over Tottenham, leading the line and holding the ball up effectively. According to statistics, Brobbey has held the ball up 48 times this season, with a higher success rate at retaining possession than anyone else near the top of the list. His contributions have directly won Sunderland eight points, and he is now bringing more to the team.