BOURNEMOUTH fought back from a goal down to stun Arsenal 2-1 at the Emirates.
The Gunners preparations for the huge Champions League second leg against PSG on Wednesday were hit by an almighty blow after Evanilson and Dean Huijsen scored in quick succession.
Mikel Arteta picked a strong team for the match with Thomas Partey returning after his suspension in the first leg against PSG last week.
- Kick off time: 5.30pm BST
- TV channel/ live stream: Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League
- Arsenal starting line-up: Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Martinelli, Trossard
- Bournemouth starting line-up: Arrizabalaga; Araujo, Huijsen, Zabarnyi, Kerkez; Cook, Adams, Kluivert; Tavernier, Ouattara. Evanilson
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Cooking Rice only bright spot
There wasn’t much for Arsenal fans to celebrate at the Emirates – but the performance of Declan Rice was a joy.
On his 100th appearance for the club, his opener was his 15th goal for Gunners.
It’s as many goals as he managed in 245 games for West Ham.
Arteta: We must use our rage
A furious Mikel Arteta insists his side must take all of their negative emotions and use them for good in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final.
Speaking after his side gave up a one-goal lead to Bournemouth, the Arsenal boss pulled no punches.
We didn’t create the right momentum. We certainly created a lot of anger, frustration, rage, disappointment. Now we have to use that for good on Wednesday. That is what we have to do.
Mikel Arteta
Match stats from the Emirates
Arsenal have now dropped 21 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season – it is their joint-most ever in a single campaign (also 21 in 2019-20).
Full time – Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth
Advantage Cherries in the race for the Conference League!
Bournemouth have won away at Arsenal for the first time in their history, completing an impressive double over the Champions League semi-finalists.
The Gunners were hoisted by their own petard, losing to two set-pieces in second half, first when Dean Huijsen headed in from Antoine Semenyo’s long throw, and then when Evanilson bundled a corner in at the far post.
Mikel Arteta has a lot of work to do to pick his players up for a huge night in Paris on Wednesday.
Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth
90+4. There’s a lot of head shaking going on as Arsenal move nowhere in their latest attack.
Bournemouth are cruising towards an important, historic win that will leave them with a real chance of European football – and it’s thoroughly deserved.
Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth
90+2. A modicum of excitement engulfs the Emirates as a free-kick is awarded to Arsenal 25 yards from goal.
It soon evaporates when Odegaardly meekly hits it into the wall.
Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth
90. Six minutes of additional time are signalled but even those Arsenal fans who have remained in their seats aren’t enthused by the news.
Just blow the whistle and let these poor people get home for Britain’s Got Talent.
Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth
87. This has been a nothing performance from Arsenal.
No wonder Declan Rice has his head in his hands on the bench.
Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth
84. Don’t worry, Arsenal fans, the calvary are coming.
Perhaps Raheem Sterling, Oleksandr Zinchenko and (the admittedly very good) Ethan Nwaneri can save the day. Yeah, I couldn’t type it with a straight face.
Ben White, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are the ones to make way.
Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth
82. If you were expecting Arsenal to respond in fighting fashion after falling behind, you were severely mistaken.
If anything, Bournemouth look as though they could score again.
Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth
79. This is the first time that Bournemouth have scored two goals from set pieces (excluding penalties) in a Premier League away game since January 2018.
Arsenal are having a taste of their own medicine.
Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth
75. Paris Saint-Germain will be shaking in their boots at this latest bout of pathetic defending.
Alex Scott swings a corner over from the left for Marcus Tavernier to flick on across goal from the near post.
At the back stick, Martin Odegaard is more concerned with wrestling Evanilson than dealing with the imminent danger of the football, and falls over as the Brazilian bundles beyond some equally shambolic goalkeeping from David Raya.
There’s a VAR check for both handball and offside, but not wanting to upset the Cherries after last week’s mess, the officials decide that the footage is inconclusive in deciding whether Evanilson used his elbow to score.
Bournemouth deservedly lead at the Emirates, and move into pole position in the race for the Conference League.
Turnaround!
Arsenal 1-1 Bournemouth
74. Never make a substitution at a corner, right?
Well, both Arsenal and Bournemouth have done just that.
Admittedly, the one for the Cherries is forced with Dango Ouattara in some discomfort; he’s replaced by David Brooks.
The hosts, though, have made the decision to swap Declan Rice with Mikel Merino while having a set-piece to defend.
Arsenal 1-1 Bournemouth
70. Mikel Arteta is yet to make a change, and now Bournemouth are the team on top.
The equaliser has shook Arsenal, and they’re being dragged all over the place by Marcus Tavernier, Alex Scott and co.
Arsenal 1-1 Bournemouth
67. Bournemouth have their equaliser!
In the end, it didn’t take much finesse or even football, just one long throw launched into the box by substitute Antoine Semenyo.
Young defender Dean Huijsen rose to meet it, and none of the five Arsenal players in his vicinity bothered to join him.
One cleverly steered header later and the ball is beyond David Raya, and the travelling fans behind that goal are going absolutely beserk.
All square!
There it is!
Arsenal 1-0 Bournemouth
63. Andoni Iraola is preparing changes which is the perfect time for commentator Rob Hawthorne to remind us that Bournemouth have had 12 goals scored by substitutes this season.
Only Fulham with 15 have scored more.
Arsenal 1-0 Bournemouth
61. “Bournemouth can smell an equaliser,” is Alan Smith’s latest worry.
Mind you, he says it just as Kluivert turns and spoons one over from 25 yards.
Arsenal 1-0 Bournemouth
59. Evanilson is booked for a textbook foul that halts Arsenal’s progress in the middle of the pitch.
No danger of a red card for the Brazilian on this occasion. Not even VAR can get this wrong.
Arsenal 1-0 Bournemouth
56. Saka is starting to influence the game a lot more now.
Moving over to the left, he’s quick to skip inside Araujo and curl a shot towards the top corner. There’s not enough bend though, and it drifts agonisingly wide.
Arsenal 1-0 Bournemouth
54. “Arsenal need a second goal here,” worries Alan Smith.
The big man’s got a point. This is a game that reeks of an 82nd minute equaliser from substitute Antoine Semenyo.
Arsenal 1-0 Bournemouth
52. Back down the other end, and Saka – unusually quiet tonight – has a shot blocked behind for a corner.
Let’s hope the Arsenal forward is saving himself for the Parc des Princes.
Arsenal 1-0 Bournemouth
49. It didn’t take long for Kerkez to threaten again.
The rampaging left-back pushes down the flank and whips in a teasing delivery that is just too far ahead of Tavernier.
It’s a reminder of the threat Bournemouth carry.
Kick-off – Arsenal 1-0 Bournemouth
46. The action restarts at the Emirates, where Arsenal are in frnot. It’s a slender lead, but a lead nonetheless.
The object for the Gunners in the second half is to see this game through without picking up any injuries while Paris awaits.
Standing in their way, Bournemouth have very different ideas.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
