Every season the Premier League is filled with teams surprising fans around the world with their outstanding performances, thus making them household names.
Teams such as Sheffield United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City have had fairytale campaigns in the Premier League which even saw the Foxes winning the league title in 2015-16.
With the Premier League being one of the most demanding leagues in the world in terms of physicality and sheer competition, it becomes imperative for teams to be consistent season in and season out to be remembered.
However, there have been teams who have not been able to keep up with the pace of the Premier League. Here is a look at three teams who have underperformed in the Premier League this season.
#1 AFC Bournemouth
The club from the south of England have had a poor run in the Premier League this campaign. Having finished the previous two seasons at 14th and 12th spots with 45 and 44 points respectively, few would have expected them to be in the bottom three this season.
Eddie Howe’s side rely on outscoring their opponents by playing a quick and attacking football. They were reasonably successful in the previous two campaigns, with the likes of Callum Wilson, Joshua King and Ryan Fraser chalking up an incredible amount of goals and assists.
Fraser set up 14 goals in the 2018-19 season, finishing just behind Eden Hazard in the assists tally. This season has seen a nosedive in his form, with him even losing his place in the first XI as he has been directly involved in just 5 goals in his 28 Premier League appearances, which is a testament to Bournemouth’s poor form.
Bournemouth’s slump in form can also be attributed to failed signings and long-term injuries to their star players. Dominic Solanke was signed from Liverpool in the winter transfer window of 2019 for a fee of £19 million, thus making him the most expensive transfer in the club’s history.
It is safe to say that this turned out to be a disastrous signing with the striker yet to open his account in the Premier League for the Cherries. The footballing Gods haven’t been kind to Bournemouth on the injury front, with David Brooks being a key absentee through an ankle injury.
Harry Wilson, who was loaned in from Liverpool last summer, hasn’t gone on to make the impact Brooks did the previous season.
Bournemouth will have to find their lost form if they are to remain in the Premier League next season.
#2 Arsenal
Arsenal are a club rich in history and are recognized as one of the top six clubs in the Premier League. The Gunners last won the league in the 2003-04 season with Arsenal fans desperate for glory days to return to the north London club.
The season started on a bright note with the big-money signing of Nicolas Pepe from From Ligue 1 outfit Lille. Pepe, a right-winger by trade with a wand of a left foot, was touted to be the missing link in the Arsenal front three.
Arsenal fans were excited to see the front three of Pepe, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette lighten up the Emirates and bring back the glory days.
Although Arsenal’s attack has been reasonably consistent this season, their defensive frailties have let down the side. Their poor run of form saw the sacking of Unai Emery with the appointment of former Arsenal player Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners have shown impressive performances in patches under Arteta with the side losing only once in the Premier League since his appointment.
With the club still eight points adrift of Chelsea, who are occupying the fourth and final Champions League qualification spot, anything other than a top four finish would be considered an underwhelming season in the eyes of the Arsenal fans.
#3 Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur have disappointed the most with their performances this season. With the side having finished as runners up in the UEFA Champions League last term, in addition to finishing in the top four in the each of the last four seasons, a lot was expected from the north London outfit by footballing fans around the world.
However, fortunes turned for the worse for Spurs. They have been nowhere near their flowing best and their season turned from bad to worse after the dismissal of Mauricio Pochettino, following a 7-2 defeat against Bayern Munich in the Champions League at their home turf.
Pochettino’s replacement, Jose Mourinho has had a rocky start to his managerial stint at Tottenham and long-term injuries to the likes of Harry Kane and Moussa Sissoko, who were pivotal in Spurs’ Champions League run last season, haven’t helped his cause.
Mourinho’s side have shown inconsistent performances with Spurs winning eight and losing six games in 16 games under the Portuguese tactician.
Tottenham are currently eighth in the Premier League, seven points behind fourth-placed Chelsea. Spurs have had an underwhelming season compared to their stellar performances in the previous four campaigns, and Jose Mourinho will need to weave his magic to resurrect the club’s floundering campaign.
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