Arsenal's Creative Drought: A Threat to Their Title Ambitions

Welcome to The Debrief, a column where Adam Bate analyzes key Premier League stories using data and opinion. This week, he discusses Arsenal's alarming performance against Bournemouth, which saw them struggle to create scoring opportunities from open play, with an expected goals total of just 0.18. The Gunners' reliance on set-pieces has been a theme this season, but it may be hindering their momentum. With 26 minutes and 48 seconds spent on dead-ball situations, Arsenal's possession was often interrupted. They have had more matches with low open-play expected goals totals than any other top-six team, which could be a concern for their title bid. Meanwhile, West Ham's Jarrod Bowen played a crucial role in their 4-0 win over Wolves, moving them out of the relegation zone. Bowen has been consistent in his output, with eight assists and eight goals in the Premier League this season. His reliability and robustness make him a key player for West Ham. Elsewhere, Sunderland's Brian Brobbey impressed with his ability to hold up the ball, leading the line effectively in their 1-0 win over Tottenham. Brobbey's statistics back up his impressive performance, with a high success rate in retaining possession after receiving the ball.