Eli Junior Kroupi could make another piece of history in what has been an impressive first season in English football this weekend.
After scoring his ninth league goal of the season from the penalty spot in the Cherries' most recent league game against Manchester United, the 19-year-old could become the first teenager to score 10 or more goals in their first Premier League season since Robbie Keane for Coventry City in 1999-2000 (12).
Already the Cherries' youngest-ever Premier League goalscorer, achieving such a feat against league leaders Arsenal at Emirates Stadium would be typical of a youngster who has taken to life in the English top flight like a duck to water, with no fear and no respect for reputation.
Kroupi's nine league goals this season have come from 26 appearances, but only 14 starts. The penalty against United was his only spot-kick, and it is the instinctive nature and variety of his goals that have really caught the attention.
In his catalogue for the season so far are two finishes with his weaker left foot, a header and three strikes from outside the box – including a stunner in the match against Arsenal at Vitality Stadium earlier this season.
Of players who have scored more than once this season, only Erling Haaland's 110 minutes per goal betters Kroupi's ratio of 129 minutes per goal.
His efficiency is also impressive. Of players who have scored five or more times this season, Kroupi's conversion rate (including blocks) of 26.6% is only bettered by Brentford’s Igor Thiago (26.8), Leeds’ Lukas Nmecha (27.3%), Brighton’s Danny Welbeck (27.9%) and Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes (28.1%).
His efficiency highlights a ruthlessness that many experienced strikers spend years trying to develop.
There are few wasted shots. Only Guimaraes, Fulham’s Harry Wilson and Manchester City’s former Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo have outperformed their xG (expected goals) more in the Premier League so far this campaign.
Whether or not he reaches this particular landmark at Arsenal, Kroupi's debut campaign has already marked him out as one of the division's most exciting young forwards – and another potentially very valuable asset uneathered and platformed by Bournemouth.
All statistics provided by Opta
