Antoine Semenyo ~ The Powerhouse Winger – Player Scouting Report

A scouting report on Semenyo’s profile and how he’s made significant steps in the Premier League under Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth replacing Solanke’s superstar tag

Career Overview:

Etching himself for Bristol City in the Championship, he patiently growing through different loan spells under them whilst finally, an impressive 2021/22 campaign resulted in him scoring 8 and assisting 12 > proceeding to signing for the Cherries in the PL

A testament to being yet another promising young talent from the English 2nd division saw him established himself in the Premier League under Iraola’s Bournemouth very well – cushioning his name into conversations of top wingers this season

Antoine Semenyo is an ambidextrous winger whose athleticism + dribbling prowess elevates the team’s attack. Thrives on his directness + raw pace with added physicality which makes him go unnoticed as a creator + scorer

Firstly, let’s look at his player profile:
Age: 25
Club: Bournemouth
Position: RW/LW
Foot: Right
Nationality: Ghanaian
Value: €30M
Height: 6’1
Avg SofaScore rating: 7.07

Strengths: Dribbling, Ball Carrying, Finishing, Pace, Ambidextrous
Weaknesses: Shot Volume

Role at Bournemouth/Ghana:

Often being positioned on the wider side at RW, Semenyo uses his ambipedal ability to its fullest in order to get on the ball more. Receiving on the turns through either foot and carrying the ball + creating separations through bursts of pace – he’s one of their key gunman

For Ghana he plays at LW majorly, adopting to more of a team players role – direct and explosive with his pace, pass intended to create and stretch defences by holding the width. From his favoured right foot he does all the routine work for his NT

Playstyle – In Possession

Dribbling is Semenyo’s art which he artistically articulates each game, all of it with pinches of physicality – allows him to receive under pressure and dominate possession. Simple yet smooth techniques, always manipulating defenders with feints/stepoverExceptional first touch especially to receive long passes that help him control the ball in closer proximity and get an advantage over the defender > also likes to challenge them in spaces where he (boasts) great COG to turn and creating favourable angles

From being positioned on the wider areas in settled play – double/tripled marked, Semenyo boasts elite ground breaking qualities that see him bypass traffic. Overloads on one side of the pitch don’t mitigate his ball carrying ability to carry and progress with the ball

Statistically his ball carrying shows promise but lesser effectiveness. However, it’s one of his proficient qualities that he uses to create something out of nothing. Drives from wider channels to the penalty box to create shot creating actions

Speed + directness makes him a powerhouse of a player to deal with defensively. Works like an engine with confidence where he likes to command from dangerous spaces, relatively moving around to boost shot taking productivity

Functions as an inside forward, working almost perfectly even without over/underlaps > this transcending to him being the target man for creativity, often pinning defenders in uncomfortable positions. Unselfish to find those added passing lanes

Shot taking actions are highly effective due to his ambipedal ability – brings the extra essence of unpredictability when he moves his body in agile positions to find shots, leaving defenders backtracking and in two minds. Generates power and demonstrates decent finishing. Frequently on the creative side of things – passing + piling shots + attacking space > apart from this, his box movements are an underrated asset that sees him score crucial goals with minimal backlift – also coming at the end of crosses in the box with his fox characteristics

Playstyle – Out of Possession:

Semenyo’s muscular build is a coaches dream when it comes to effectively minimising an opponents attacking patterns. He brings the added frame + dynamism alongside the pace that makes it easier for him to win the ball whilst also difficult to outmuscle him

Operates as a front footed presser, hardworking and determined to win the ball in plenty of occasions. Semenyo’s initial thought whilst winning a defensive duel is – how to get aggressive and progress with the ball? Ever so direct and athletic

Embed from Getty Images

For someone of his stature, it’s pretty obvious of their dominance in the air, but Semenyo leading charts as an attacker is surprising in recovering the ball. Averaging 2.19 aerials won per90, Semenyo falls in the 99 percentile of forwards to do so

Under Iraola’s counter pressing tactics, he likes being on his toes and use his physicality to outmuscle players off the ball and winning the ball. It’s his understanding of defensive patterns and willingness to be part of majority of the moves that make him a threat OOP

Once winning the ball back, Semenyo has elite qualities to make him inevitable on transitions – pace + physicality + ball carrying ability let’s him drive forwards and make himself a nuisance, a common theme in his goal catalogue

The effect of Solanke’s exit:

Embed from Getty Images

Semenyo looks to be jumping his effectiveness in attacking the game in newer patterns – more box crashing + runs into the box + touches in the opp box + more attacks targeted through his creativity. Explosiveness and his danger is channelled more

From relying onto crosses in the box for Solanke’s box domination antics, Iraola has transformed them to a side that has plenty to offer IP to break a teams block – Semenyo being a route. Certainly, suggests that he’s taken the attacking load onto himself after Solanke’s exit

Areas to Improve:

Semenyo has a natural history of being wasteful with his actions in order to be more effective and ahead of himself in terms of creating the edge. Shot volume at 4.23 per90 is a perfect example of his eagerness which he needs to work to converting (shots xG)

Conclusion:

Semenyo’s talent is now not a factor of surprise to anyone who’s viewed him in the Premier League. Better output generation and consistent performances is going to secure him the bag in the near future

~ To view the same article in thread format, click on the link below and follow @afcaarush on X