'World-class' Semenyo fires Bournemouth to 'unthinkable' heights

Bournemouth fans must person feared nan worst erstwhile £200m worthy of first-team players near during nan summer.

But keeping clasp of 1 prima - Antoine Semenyo - proved an absolute masterstroke arsenic nan Ghana winger has been nan inspiration down their climb to 2nd spot successful nan Premier League.

The 25-year-old scored twice, and assisted one, arsenic Bournemouth came from down to beat Fulham 3-1 connected Friday and move to wrong 1 constituent of Premier League leaders Liverpool.

The first onslaught to equalise was typical arsenic he picked nan shot up connected nan near wing, near defenders successful his wake, took it to nan byeline and past slotted nan shot done Bernd Leno's legs from a tight angle.

He past group up Justin Kluivert's extremity earlier netting successful wounded clip connected a counter-attack.

That takes him up to six convention goals this season, only down Mancheter City's generational goalscorer Erling Haaland.

Since nan commencement of May, he has been straight progressive successful much goals than immoderate different subordinate successful nan Premier League (12 - 8 goals, 4 assists).

Not bad for a subordinate Bristol City picked up from nan South Gloucestershire and Stroud College academy astatine nan property of 17.

"It was a difficult [stormy] nighttime to play shot but it didn't matter to Semenyo," said ex-England midfielder Jamie Redknapp connected Sky Sports.

"He conscionable glides crossed that surface. An incredible, unsocial talent. So awesome to see.

"Doesn't matter if it's correct foot, near foot, makes nary quality for him."

While almost half of Bournemouth's first squad near during nan summer, Semenyo was linked pinch moves to Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham.

But alternatively he signed a five-year woody backmost connected 1 July.

And that has proved to beryllium awesome business for nan Cherries for he is 1 of nan shape players successful nan Premier League correct now.

Last season, nan 25-year-old Ghana guardant deed double figures for nan first clip successful his profession - 11 goals successful nan league, 13 successful each competitions.

This play he has scored six times successful his opening 7 Premier League games and assisted 3 more.

Semenyo was asked aft nan crippled by nan BBC if this was nan champion shape of his life.

"Yeah, I'd for illustration to deliberation so," he said. "I convey God massively. He's played a monolithic portion successful my life and I'm conscionable reaping nan rewards now. So yeah, I convey him always."

There will beryllium galore clubs wishing they had taken nan bet connected him before.

Semenyo qualifies for Ghana done his father, but he is from London. He was rejected by Arsenal, Spurs and Millwall arsenic a youngster earlier ending up successful a West Country academy tally by erstwhile Leeds and Forest Green head Dave Hockaday.

Bristol City signed him successful 2017 but he needed indebtedness spells astatine Bath, Newport and Sunderland earlier breaking into nan Robins first squad successful 2020-21.

In January 2023, he made nan £10m move to Bournemouth - and he has been improving ever since.

"I deliberation he is simply a subordinate pinch confidence," said leader Andoni Iraola.

"It has been increasing pinch him. He has played successful different divisions, earning his measurement into nan Premier League. He is very basal for us."

His numbers are done nan tile now. He is first successful nan Premier League for duels won, first for possession won successful nan last third, 2nd for sprints and apical 5 for dribbles. Plus each those goals of course.

Team-mate Kluivert said: "He is incredible. He shows it each crippled now. He is conscionable world class."

Bournemouth leader Iraola will beryllium a coach successful request erstwhile he decides to move on.

The 43-year-old Basque has been successful complaint since 2023 aft nan astonishment sacking of Gary O'Neil.

Many were not happy astatine nan time, pinch Iraola not being a family sanction - and having only managed AEK Larnaca, Mirandes and Rayo Vallecano.

But nan assignment has been a singular success, pinch nan nine finishing 12th and past ninth.

They person ne'er been arsenic precocious arsenic 2nd successful nan apical formation much than 2 games into a season.

Apart from his awesome activity successful maintaining a successful team, moreover erstwhile it seemed each their stars were leaving successful nan summer, his strategies were spot connected on Friday.

For six minutes he had 3 defenders connected nan transportation alternatively of four. And that changed nan game.

In nan 78th infinitesimal he brought connected a winger for a defender. They were 1-0 down.

In nan 85th minute, he brought connected a winger for a defender. They were 2-1 up.

"We had to return risks and put connected much violative players and it worked," he said. "The players person to make nan quality and coming they made it."

Kluivert said: "He is incredible. If you spot besides nan guys that person near nan team, really we are doing astatine nan infinitesimal is incredible.

"I ever opportunity that nan driver of nan autobus is nan coach and he is driving america a crazy route. Amazing driver, truthful we travel him."

Redknapp said: "Iraola could negociate immoderate squad successful world football.

"He improves players, everything they do is exciting. They person to bask him while he is here. How long? Who knows?

"Can they support doing nan unthinkable, for illustration getting into nan apical six? They merit it and thing is imaginable arsenic agelong arsenic they support nan head because he is that large an plus for nan club."

Many felt that Bournemouth overachieved erstwhile they vanished ninth past play - and for a while location was moreover talk of Europe.

And past 3 of their backmost 4 - Illia Zabarnyi, Milos Kerkez and Dean Huijsen - near for immoderate of Europe's apical clubs for almost £150m.

And they grounded to make goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga's indebtedness move from Chelsea imperishable - pinch nan Spaniard joining Arsenal instead.

They recouped complete £200m by nan clip you adhd successful guardant Dango Ouattara's exit to Brentford.

Their defence this play is simply a operation of caller signings and players who were already there.

Left-back Adrien Truffert, a signing from Rennes, and centre-back Marcos Senesi - who joined successful 2022 - person played each Premier League game.

Centre-back Bafode Diakite, who joined from Lille, has played successful each barroom 1 crippled - and 4 different defenders person started astatine slightest 1 convention match.

Goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, who joined from Kepa's aged nine Chelsea, has played each infinitesimal truthful far.

Even earlier Friday's crippled they had won possession much times than immoderate different Premier League team, taken portion successful much duels and made much recoveries than anyone else.

Their players besides made much sprints and nan lowest passes per protect action - which is an denotation of really overmuch pressing they do.

They lead nan measurement connected agelong passes and clearances too.

And wherever could they finish?

"We support humble because nan play is long," said Kluivert. "But who knows, who knows? We spell for nan biggest imaginable [highest finish]."