Bournemouth

Image source, Getty Images

Former Premier League striker Alan Shearer has been discussing Bournemouth's "clever" set-pieces on Match of the Day, after the Cherries grabbed a late point against Aston Villa thanks to a set-piece from a free kick.

"We saw them do the same thing against Arsenal, where they worked it really well," Shearer said. "Their plan in this game was actually going to the far post. They did it so many times but [Emi] Martinez had no problems with those balls because he loves that.

"If you are going to put a ball in to the far post like that, he will come and get them all afternoon.

"But then Evanilson comes on and Bournemouth changed their tactics, they tried something different. The first one didn't really work but they worked it quite well, and I think that should've been a warning sign for Aston Villa.

"The second one was in a similar sort of position and if Matty Cash comes five-yards further back, which he should have done because he was in no man's land, he would have been able to defend it.

"But Evanilson was just allowed to run off Jhon Duran and score. Rather than going to the far post again, Bournemouth instead worked the ball really well. It was a clever ball in, clever moment and a wonderful header.

"That then ends up getting them the point - they are clever from set-pieces."

Catch up on Match of the Day here

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's five Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Leicester City and Nottingham Forest.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Aston Villa 1-1 Bournemouth

• Everton 1-1 Fulham

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

There was only one player of the match for the Cherries and that was back-up goalkeeper Mark Travers.

On Saturday usual stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga was a shock absentee after sustaining a muscle issue in training.

So stand-in keeper Travers was given his second start of the season, and his 20th overall in the Premier League, and impressed with a number of crucial saves.

Boss Iraola later told BBC Match of the Day that Travers kept the visitors in the game.

He was Bournemouth's key performer, along with second-half substitute Evanilson who only touched the ball nine times but still managed to make an all-important impact.

Travers made seven saves in all, including fine stops in each half to to repel thunderous efforts from Villa centre-backs Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres.

Should Kepa be out for an extended period, Bournemouth fans will and can be confident with the 25-year-old.

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers has been speaking to Premier League Productions about Evanilson's late leveller: "It was a special moment, especially so late in the game. A great ball by Travers and an even better header from Evanilson too.

"We are glad he got the goal and that he could celebrate with the fans. We all know that he is an amazing striker. It is never easy for someone to move to a new country. He doesn't speak English, but he has settled in well and hopefully he can build on that.

"We kept going to the end. We knew coming here would be a difficult game. We keep trying to do what we are doing. It was an open game, but we are happy with a point in the end.

"We are building on last season. The confidence is growing in the group and more results like this will kick us on. It was great to help the team out and, when I get called up, I try to help the team the best I can - so that's all I wanted to do today."

Image source, Getty Images

There were seven yellow cards shown in the first half between Aston Villa and Bournemouth - no Premier League game has ever seen more in the first 45 minutes. Meanwhile, it is the first time this has happened more than once in a season, after Tottenham v Arsenal in September.

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day after his side clinched a draw at Villa Park: "It is always nice when you have a point at the end, in the last minute of the game. I don't feel we played well, but we competed well. We faced a very good team and they started better than us. It was difficult.

"We played better against Arsenal but we showed more character today. You feel intimidation here and it is tough to survive, but we kept in and got the draw."

On the penalty shouts from his team: "I don't want to talk about the referees. I prefer not to speak. After I was suspended, I prefer to start a clean slate."

On the equaliser coming from a well-worked set-piece: "Especially with the goalkeeper - everything we were putting on the second post, he was claiming. Luckily the last one was a difficult header, but it was a great goal in a great moment."

On Mark Travers' performance: "He made very good saves and kept us in the game when we were suffering. Everyone has stepped up and we finished much better."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Aston Villa's performance, external

What did you make of Bournemouth’s display?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Five matches make up Saturday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

• Aston Villa v Bournemouth - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Brentford v Ipswich

• Brighton v Wolves

• Manchester City v Southampton

• Everton v Fulham - 17:30 - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-offs 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week nine, he takes on rapper Nemzzz, who supports Manchester United.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Again, the question is how will Villa cope with playing in the Champions League this week?

They played well when they beat Bologna on Tuesday, but the last time they had a big European win against Bayern Munich at the start of October, they were pretty flat the following weekend when they drew at home to Manchester United.

That's what worries me, especially against a Bournemouth side who will be flying off the back of beating Arsenal.

The Cherries scored their opener with a lovely set-piece routine and played really well throughout, including when it was 11 versus 11.

So Villa could probably do without this game - but I still think they will extend their 10-game unbeaten run, and maybe this is when they show us they have the required strength in depth.

They actually had quite a strong bench against Bologna and Ollie Watkins will be fresh after only coming on for the final half hour or so. I am going to say he will make the difference.

Nemzzz's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier, we asked you to identify the former Bournemouth player from their Premier League statistics playing for the club.

The correct answer was Aaron Ramsdale.

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth centre-back Marcos Senesi is expected to receive an international call-up from Lionel Scaloni for the World Cup qualifiers in November, according to reports in Argentina.

Speaking in his pre-match news conference for the trip to Aston Villa, Cherries boss Andoni Iraola praised the defender: "Marcos has been playing very well and improving a lot.

"The way we want to play fits very well with his strengths. You can see that he is very comfortable now, even when going out of position sometimes.

"It isn't easy for some centre-backs to lose their position in the same way he does, while keeping their confidence and not being out of place, but he is very good at doing these things.

"Obviously he plays for a national team that are world champions, so it is very difficult to get in the squad, but I have no doubts that he is at that level.

"I know Lionel Scaloni very well - and I'm sure that if he recalls him, he will be ready."

Senesi made his Argentina debut in June 2022, playing 28 minutes of a 5-0 win over Estonia, but he is yet to make another appearance for La Albiceleste.

Millie Sian
BBC Sport researcher

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Aston Villa (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Alex Scott has had a successful procedure to "repair his meniscus" after picking up an injury following the win over Arsenal. He will be out for "definitely more than six weeks".

• Luis Sinisterra will not be travelling with the squad this weekend after suffering with "some issues" after the last game. He will "probably" be available for the next game against Manchester City.

• He added that Bournemouth have been "quite lucky" with injuries so far this season, but now "it will be a chance for other players to also help out".

• On Villa's current form: "They are playing very well. They are getting great results. They are on a great run, which is always difficult to break. They also have almost everyone available, so for sure they are very dangerous."

• He is expecting to face the "best version" of Aston Villa and believes Bournemouth will have to be "very close to their best" to be in with a chance of taking points against Unai Emery's side.

• On having 11 points on the board after eight games, after only having three points at the same stage last season: "It is still very early in the season. We have had quite logical results, so we are around where we wanted to be. We have to continue this because now we are talking about Aston Villa, Manchester City and Brentford. It won't get any easier."

• He believes it is "probably the best moment" for Tyler Adams to make his return from long-term injury: "He is feeling well and he feels confident in training, which is the most important thing after a long time out. I see him playing very freely and I think he is ready to contribute straight away."

• On the reports that Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni might recall Marcos Senesi for the World Cup qualifiers: "He has been playing very well and improving a lot. He plays for a national team that are world champions, so it is very difficult to get in the squad, but I have no doubts that he is at that level. If Scaloni recalls him, he will be ready."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the latest football news here

Guess the former Bournemouth player from their Premier League statistics at the club:

• Years at club: 2017-2020

• National team: England

• Position: Goalkeeper

• Appearances: 37

• Goals: 0

Answer will be revealed at 17:00 BST

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport senior journalist

Image source, Getty Images

As the dust settled after Bournemouth's win over Arsenal on Saturday, one of the unsung members of the backroom team was taking the plaudits.

Goalscorer Ryan Christie was quick to credit assistant first-team coach Shaun Cooper as the man behind the set-piece routine which conjured the opening goal fired past the Gunners.

Isle of Wight-born utility man Cooper made 240 appearances in seven seasons with the Cherries during his playing days - lining up in every position except goalkeeper and striker.

As a coach, too, the 41-year-old has filled various roles, rising through the academy age groups to assist boss Andoni Iraola alongside fellow ex-Cherries skipper Tommy Elphick, although that was not originally the plan.

Iraola had wanted to bring Inigo Perez, his assistant from Rayo Vallecano, with him to Vitality Stadium, but Perez did not meet the Home Office's criteria for a work permit, external. (Subsequently, despite not clearing the UK authorities' bar for an assistant coach role, Perez is now back in La Liga... as Vallecano's head coach).

It meant that while some overseas managers arrive in the Premier League with a supporting cast of up to half a dozen, Iraola's only fellow new arrival was fitness coach Pablo de la Torre, with Elphick and Cooper continuing in the roles they had held under Gary O'Neil.

And while there has been much attention of late around the top-flight clubs who have hired specialist set-piece coaches, at Bournemouth it has often been an additional task handed to one of the existing coaches - Jason Tindall (assistant manager under Eddie Howe) or Rob Burch (goalkeeping coach under Scott Parker), and now Cooper.

Elphick, meanwhile, has almost been Iraola's de facto number two, standing in for the Spaniard when he has been unavailable, such as while serving a recent one-match touchline ban, as well as forming a close triumvirate with Iraola and Cooper.

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Last week in my newsletter, I had a little dig at those set-piece coaches forever barging into the limelight, but only doing so when their ideas work well. Having said that, when one of these football chinstrokers comes up with an entirely new strategy then I am first to give them credit.

So take a bow Shaun Cooper down at Bournemouth for a play that any Super Bowl Champions would have been proud of.

‌Lewis Cook had to deliver perfectly, Justin Kluivert's touch needed to be sublime, and Ryan Christie had to nail the hit… they each did and it was a thing of beauty.‌

I am not sure if I should be humbled because in that moment Shaun absolutely deserved the credit and the notoriety. To be fair, he is assistant manager, well one of two assistant managers, so not just a set-piece coach.

Sign up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter here

Borussia Dortmund want to sign a left-back in January with Chelsea's 27-year-old England international Ben Chilwell and Bournemouth's Hungary defender Milos Kerkez, 20, on their shortlist. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Tom Jordan
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth shocked the Premier League at the weekend by ending Arsenal’s unbeaten start to the season. The substitutions proved decisive and in particular, the introduction of Ryan Christie made the difference.

After scoring for Scotland in the week and given the positive press he has received, Christie was surprisingly named on the bench for the Cherries on Saturday, albeit his introduction was worth waiting for.

His first goal of the season for Bournemouth turbocharged an impressive 2-0 win over the Gunners and it was pleasing to know that many neutral fans finally got to see what Cherries fans see regularly from their flying Scotsman.

Still deployed from a wide attacking area for his national team, Christie was signed predominantly as a right winger and that remained the case until Andoni Iraola got the gig at Vitality Stadium.

Faced with a lack of central midfield options, the Bournemouth head coach persisted with Ryan in a role we never anticipated - and it has more than paid off.

He covers every blade of grass with his aggressive press exactly how Iraola wants Bournemouth to play and in general Christie has become one of Bournemouth’s most consistent performers for some time now.

He has gone from a player that many deemed surplus to requirements to an integral part of the side - without question, a fans' favourite. The desire, work rate and energy is undeniable, but adding that bit of quality in the final third will only add to the love he receives from the Cherries faithful.

Not all Scottish Ryans are welcomed at Bournemouth, but we roll out the red carpet for this one.

Find more from Tom Jordan at Back of the Net, external

Image source, Getty Images

A Bournemouth-related question was put to BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty in Monday's Q&A.

Oliver asked: Hi Phil. When teams such as Bournemouth beat Arsenal why is there so much focus on what Arsenal did wrong, rather than what Bournemouth did right? I feel teams outside the top six never get enough credit for top performances.

Phil answered: Hi OIiver. I sense your frustration but unfortunately it is always a bigger story when one of the big teams takes a heavy fall.

I did think Bournemouth got credit but Arsenal are the headline story. The way of the world I'm afraid.

On this game, I just loved that set piece for Ryan Christie’s goal, a brilliantly worked corner routine involving Lewis Cook and Justin Kluivert. Straight off the training ground and brilliantly executed.

Can you imagine how delighted coach Andoni Iraola and his staff will have been with that?

Read more of the Q&A with Phil and the rest of the day's football news

Image source, Getty Images

Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker says Bournemouth's set piece routine that resulted in Ryan Christie firing into the top corner against Arsenal was "perfectly executed and beautiful to watch".

"Their set piece coach has earned his pay cheque because that was done to perfection," he told the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast. "Those sort of things look so good when they are designed and finished like that, but when they don't work you are open to the counter attack.

"I think it is the best set piece of the season so far. Perfectly executed and beautiful to watch."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Bournemouth and Arsenal.

Here are some of your comments:

Bournemouth fans

Steve: A magnificent performance from the Cherries. Underrated by many, they showed exactly what they are really capable of and took it to Arsenal from the first whistle to the last. The first goal was a beautiful set piece straight off the training ground and plaudits go to Andoni Iraola and his backroom boys. Villa next and they will not treat us as a pushover.

Nick: We always create chances against any other team that we play, but today we were out of the blocks quicker than Arsenal and they were very flat in their play. We just out-played them, simple as that. Well done Cherries.

Rob: Small margins often dictate how a game goes. The sending off worked in our favour and we dispatched Arsenal with ease. A great performance.

Arsenal fans

Jeff: Poor sideways and backwards passing tactics. They got what they deserved; nothing. Arteta needs to realise where the goal is and try to get the ball in it. Dull tactics. If he can't see the obvious he needs to get out of town. You don't win games or titles with cowardly tactics.

John: Abysmal to be honest, even with 11 we didn't look like winning. The red card, that wasn't, just confirmed that we would lose the game. We have struggled against so called lesser opposition all season. If it doesn't change we can kiss goodbye to any kind of success.

Rachel: Poor performance from Arsenal but I think it's been coming for some time. Most players were poor, some were a liability, some still showed they really wanted it. The result was almost fair in the circumstances but what worries me most is the knock to their confidence. Interesting to see how well they bounce back, do they have the mentality?

Gary Lineker brings highlights and analysis from Saturday's Seven Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Man Utd 2-1 Brentford

• Bournemouth 2-0 Arsenal