Former Premier League winger Yannick Bolasie has criticised Arsenal’s style of play following their 2-1 defeat by AFC Bournemouth, accusing key midfielders of being overly cautious in possession.
The result denied Arsenal the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League, leaving them nine points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who still have two games in hand ahead of a meeting between the sides next week.
In comments posted on social media platform X, Bolasie singled out Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi, arguing that both players prioritised safe passing rather than progressive attacking play. He suggested that goalkeeper David Raya appeared more involved in distributing the ball than the attacking players.
“All comes from Raya dancing on the ball like he has all game. When your back line is touching the ball more than any offensive players it’s a big problem, dead stats people get rated for these days,” Bolasie wrote.
Match statistics appeared to support his observation of Raya’s involvement. The goalkeeper attempted 49 passes, completing 38 of them, while Rice registered 43 successful passes from 50 attempts. Zubimendi recorded 29 successful passes from 38 attempts, and fellow midfielder Kai Havertz completed 17 of his 22 passes.
Bolasie argued that such figures reflect a broader issue in modern football, where players can achieve high pass completion rates without taking significant risks.
“Of course your pass rates gonna be 95% if you’re always passing backwards and side to side, same way wingers who don’t lose the ball aren’t trying to take on the full backs….safety first,” he said.
He went on to question the prominence of defensive players in ball distribution, adding: “Raya passing the ball more than Declan Rice or Zubimendi is the strange thing about football today, the players with the least attacking ability touching and passing the most.”
Arsenal’s defeat represents a setback in their title challenge, particularly given the opportunity it presented to increase their advantage over reigning champions Manchester City. Instead, the gap remains at nine points, with City holding games in hand that could significantly alter the standings.
The result also raises questions about Arsenal’s tactical approach in key matches, with criticism focusing on whether their emphasis on possession and control may come at the expense of attacking intent.
With a crucial fixture against Manchester City looming, scrutiny is likely to intensify over manager decisions and player performances, as Arsenal seek to maintain their position at the top of the table in the closing stages of the season.
