He was solid in tackles and very comfortable on the ball during the course of the game, where he also showed his
strength in aerial duels especially midway through the first half.
Bournemouth have an attacking philosophy which is reflected in their stats: they are mid table with 12 shots per game, they try to own possession against smaller teams and have 50 % on average this season, they are 8th in passing success rate with 81 %, they are second to last
in aerial duels with just 12 per game... they are 19th in tackles, 16th in interceptions, they are 8th in dribbles, and 3rd in drawing fouls.
Size or height only has any real
advantage in aerial duels and even then it not a clincher, depends as much on spring, upper body strength and timing etc..
Statistically he is comparable to
BFG in aerial duels and significantly better than Koscielny so I think it was just the game that you saw and the fact that he was playing at full back.
Gab for me has not convinced, Mert, we can't expect him to turn into Usain and Kos, we cant expect opposing managers to stop pitting the likes of Kouyate, Van Dijk, G Mccauley, Benteke against him at set pieces and hope he can come out on
top in their aerial duel every time....
-- Fair play to Wenger sticking with Ospina, but against a team that
thrives in aerial duels you would think Cech would be picked.
In a two - minute stretch at the end of the first half, Chelsea's hard - charging defender, Gary Cahill, had his nose broken in a collision with his goalkeeper, and Chelsea's harder - charging forward, gashed his
head in an aerial duel.
The tone for Leeds» invigorated display was set up as early in the 15th minute by Pontus Jansson as the Swedish international sent Boro's Marcus Tavernier clattering to the
ground in an aerial duel and walked away roaring at the Boro winger.
The Inter Milan midfielder is also decent in the air, and that is an area of his game that Croatia may look to
exploit in aerial duels with Juanfran.
A 67 % success
rate in aerial duels is also a decent return, whilst he mad five interceptions throughout the game.
Meanwhile, despite Emre Can's contract talks being put on hold, in the German international Liverpool possess
strength in aerial duels, a skilled ball carrier and a player who thrives in physical tussles to variate between the aforementioned trio.
«My biggest development has been
in aerial duels.
Giroud is better in lay - off &
in aerial duels.