How Semenyo has flourished into a star at Bournemouth

Antoine Semenyo (25) has become a captivating figure this season, mirroring Bournemouth's spirited play under Andoni Iraola.

After 25 games, the Cherries are one point off the top four. They have just one defeat in their last 15 games and are playing some of the best football in the English top flight.

Semenyo's contribution has been pivotal, marked by seven goals and four assists, already surpassing his previous season's tally.

Arriving at Bournemouth during the winter transfer window of the 2022/23 season, the Ghanaian winger initially scored just a single goal in six months but has since flourished.

In this edition of Black Star Watch, we attempt to answer the question; what has contributed to Semenyo’s rapid development at Bournemouth?

With nearly equal playing time this season compared to last—23.4 full 90-minute games in each — the timing is ideal for drawing comparisons. 

The departure of Dominic Solanke to Tottenham at the start of the 2024/25 season created a significant void in Iraola’s attack. Solanke, who previously led the team with 19 goals and three assists, left big shoes to fill.

Although Bournemouth acquired Evanilson from Porto for a record £40.2 million, it was clear the Brazilian would need time to adjust to the Premier League. 

Consequently, Iraola appears to have entrusted greater responsibility to the existing attacking players, Semenyo included.

Responsibility in football often encourages risk-taking, which in turn can lead to greater rewards, and this has defined Semenyo's season.

Embracing the adage "if you don’t shoot, you don’t score," the Ghanaian has attempted a team-leading 92 shots, far surpassing Justin Kluivert's 44. 

This contrasts sharply with the previous season, where Semenyo attempted only 70 shots in a similar amount of playing time.

Arriving at Bournemouth during the winter transfer window of the 2022/23 season, the Ghanaian winger initially scored just a single goal in six months but has since flourished.

In this edition of Black Star Watch, we attempt to answer the question; what has contributed to Semenyo’s rapid development at Bournemouth?

It appears that Andoni Iraola has instilled a clear directive in Semenyo, as evidenced by the winger's impressive average of 3.93 shots per 90 minutes this season - almost a full shot more than the 2.99 he recorded last year.

Last season, Semenyo exceeded his Expected Goals (xG) of 4.6 by a remarkable +3.4, netting eight goals. This season, while he is slightly underperforming his xG of 7.7 by -0.7, there remains a strong belief that he will find the back of the net more frequently. 

His increased shooting frequency, coupled with an improved shot quality - reflected in his Non-Penalty Expected Goals per Shot (npXG/Shot) rising from 0.007 to 0.08 - suggests that better days are ahead.

Semenyo's overall involvement in play has also seen a notable improvement this season. He is starting more matches and averaging four additional touches per 90 minutes. 

His passing has become more precise, boasting a pass success rate of 71.5%, up from last season's 69.9%. Despite maintaining the same number of key passes (29) as last year, he has elevated his Expected Assists (xA) from 2.3 to an impressive 3.2, while also increasing his passes into the final third and progressive passes.

What truly sets Semenyo apart is his ambidexterity; he often leaves defenders guessing about which foot he favours. Last season, he scored four goals with each foot, and this year, he has already netted three with his left and four with his right, showcasing his versatility and lethal potential in front of goal.

Semenyo's goal against Chelsea perfectly encapsulates his emergence as a defender's nightmare. Controlling the ball initially with his right foot, he lured Josh Acheampong into guiding him towards the outside, only to unleash an unstoppable shot with his equally potent left foot, propelling Bournemouth into the lead at Stamford Bridge.

With 13 Premier League games remaining in the season, Semenyo's current form suggests that, if he remains fit, surpassing the 10-goal mark for the first time in his career is a distinct possibility.