Tuesday 22 November 2016 17:36, UK
Who will come out on top when Arsenal take on Bournemouth this Sunday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD? We analyse the key battle between Alexis Sanchez and Harry Arter.
While Sanchez and Arter may not be obvious head-to-head rivals, Sanchez's willingness to drop deep and Arter's battling qualities make them set for a key battle on Sunday.
Sanchez has been Arsenal's starting forward in 11 of 12 Premier League games this season - but rather than being an out-and-out striker, the Chilean operates between the lines. Stats show he gets involved in all-round play more than almost any other Premier League forward.
The only forward to beat Sanchez for touches, passes and chances created is Roberto Firmino, who has licence to move freely in Liverpool's fluid front six.
Firmino and Sanchez are the only Premier League forwards who have created more chances for others than taken shots (excluding blocks and based on a minimum of 20 shots), further underlining their willingness to drop deep.
Sanchez has created 25 chances, only two fewer than chief Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil - but Sanchez has provided three assists to Ozil's one.
So if Sanchez drops into midfield, into that area where Ozil also operates, Bournemouth will need Arter to protect their back four.
Arter has won 25 tackles this season - only four Premier League midfielders have won more. He made five tackles during the win at Stoke last time out and six when Bournemouth frustrated Tottenham last month.
Last season, Bournemouth conceded an average of 1.3 goals per game when Arter played, but 2.3 goals per game when he did not feature. Unsurprisingly, he has started all 12 this term.
Arter has won three or more tackles in six of 12 Premier League games - Bournemouth took 11 points from those games, losing just once. All four of Bournemouth's clean sheets have come when Arter won three or more tackles.
Conversely, the Cherries have taken four points from the six games in which Arter won fewer than three tackles, failing to keep a clean sheet.
Bournemouth have suffered midfield disruption recently - Jack Wilshere is ineligible against his parent club, while Arter's usual partner Andrew Surman has been missing with a hamstring injury.
Given how dangerous Sanchez and Arsenal are in that area of the pitch, Arter will need to be at his best on Sunday.
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