Will Arsenal's Limited Open-Play Creativity Prove Costly in the Title Race?

Welcome to The Debrief, a Sky Sports column where Adam Bate combines data analysis and opinion to examine key stories from the latest Premier League matches. This week's focus is on Arsenal's concerning performance against Bournemouth, which has raised questions about their title aspirations. Despite their mastery of set-pieces, the Gunners struggled to create scoring opportunities from open play, with an expected goals total of just 0.18. This over-reliance on set-plays may hinder their momentum, as seen in their recent match where they spent a significant amount of time on dead-ball situations, including six minutes preparing for corners and seven minutes waiting for throw-ins. Arsenal's formula has taken them to the top of the Premier League table, but their inability to create from open play is a concern, with six matches this season having an open-play expected goals total of 0.3 or lower. In contrast, previous Premier League winners have consistently ranked high in open-play creativity. 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, taking his season total to eight. Bowen's consistency is notable, with only Mohamed Salah and Bruno Fernandes having more goal involvements over the past six seasons. Additionally, Sunderland's Brian Brobbey has impressed with his ability to hold up the ball, with a success rate higher than any other player near the top of the list, making him a valuable asset for his team.