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ARSENAL dream of being No 1 in Europe.But if they keep up this league form they could end up finishing third or even worse in what was supposed to be a two-horse race to be kings of England.Arsenal warmed up for their second leg against PSG with a damaging defeat to BournemouthCredit: ReutersThe Cherries came from a goal down to win at the EmiratesCredit: ReutersMikel Arteta’s decision to make just one change to his side backfiredCredit: ReutersJust as in the 2-2 home draw against Brentford between the two legs of the Champions League quarter final against Real Madrid, Arsenal failed to turn their first-half superiority into goals.And the Gunners will have to hope it is some kind of perverse omen for when they go to Paris on Wednesday trying to overcome a one-goal semi-final deficit against PSG.Declan Rice put the home side ahead with a well-worked effort, but the Gunners could not find a second.And Bournemouth took the opportunity to boost their own hopes of playing in Uefa competition next season by scoring two quickfire goals to seal a precious victory.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLArsenal boss Mikel Arteta will not appreciate the irony of his team being undone by two set-pieces, with Dean Huijsen heading the equaliser direct from an Antoine Semenyo long throw and Evanilson credited with the winner after a corner.The tinfoil-hat section of the Gunners’ support will note how VAR Michael Salisbury and his team could find no reason to disallow the Cherries’ winner after a long-ish check.But the brutal truth is that Arsenal did not deserve to win.Even before Liverpool had confirmed the inevitable last weekend, the Gunners’  Premier League games were feeling like a contractual obligation.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSSomething to be endured or survived intact, rather than enjoyed.Arsenal’s season has been all about the Champions League for a while.Declan Rice in rousing speech as he explains what Arsenal stars MUST do against PSG ‘or we die’Which is what made Mikel Arteta’s team selection a bit surprising.On the same day, PSG had fielded a starting 11 showing 10 changes from the first leg at the Emirates for their game at Strasbourg – and duly lost 2-1.Arteta chose to play his strongest available team, with Thomas Partey coming back in after missing the 1-0 defeat through suspension and just one other alteration prompted by caution over Jurrien Timber.Yet Arsenal suffered the same fate.The Clock End displayed a new banner that read, “Believe and take us to Munich”.A resident of the city that will host the Champions League final, England boss Thomas Tuchel was in the crowd. Declan Rice fired the Gunners ahead in the 34th minuteCredit: ReutersThe Gunners looked to be sailing towards victoryCredit: PAIn the early stages you – and probably he – wondered why he had bothered.Very little indeed happened for the opening 15 minutes or so.Then Rice had three glimpses of goal in quick succession. He sent shots wide from the first two openings, and was then denied the opportunity to nod in Ben White’s cross by Illia Zabarnyi’s vigilant defensive header.“You’re just a s**t Harry Arter,” was the mocking chant from the away fans.Those same supporters should have been celebrating in the 26th minute.Bournemouth equalised in the 67th minuteCredit: GettyDean Huijsen celebrated his goal in styleCredit: ReutersLeft back Milos Kerkez sent in a lovely cross and Evanilson wrestled free of Jakub Kiwior. But the Brazilian centre forward, playing after his ridiculous red card against Manchester United was rescinded, headed wastefully over the bar.Stung into action, Arsenal ought then to have scored themselves. But Gabriel Martinelli dragged his shot badly wide after being teed up by Bukayo Saka.Martinelli soon turned provider, only for Kepa to get down well to save Leandro Trossard’s header. Rice was not to be denied, however. Martin Odegaard burst clear and laid a well-weighted ball into the path of his team-mate’s intelligent run.Rice kept his cool, took the ball past Kepa and then clipped it into the net despite Zabarnyi’s best efforts.Evanilson then scored a controversial winnerCredit: AFPThe Brazilian didn’t care as he toasted his strikeCredit: GettyBournemouth were disappointing, but threatened twice late in the half. Justin Kluivert’s shot was deflected over by William Saliba, then Evanilson clipped the ball too high, wasting a great chance after Arsenal lost the ball 30 yards out.Both teams started the second period with more vim and vigour than they had the first.Saka wriggled free in the box but a shot with his less potent right foot went flashing wide of the far post. The second goal that the home team needed for comfort would not come.Apart from one Dango Ouattara cross, the Cherries did not look like finding an equaliser.It was not the result Arsenal wanted ahead of their PSG clashCredit: AlamyThe Gunners’ season rests on the result in France next weekCredit: ReutersIraola saw that and sent on Alex Scott and Semenyo with just over 25 minutes to go.Semenyo was immediately guilty of a heavy touch on a promising run and Saliba cleared the ball wide.But Semenyo launched the resulting throw into the box, where it was met by Huijsen with a deft header that nestled inside the far post.Eight minutes later Bournemouth had the lead.Marcus Tavernier headed on Alex Scott’s corner and the ball was bundled in at the far post by a combination of Evanilson, Odegaard and David Raya.A VAR check first ruled out offside against the Brazilian and then handball. The away fans went bananas.Read More on The SunSome of the home supporters were getting annoyed by a perceived lack of commitment from their team.Arteta made a triple change inside the last five minutes. But it was the same old story, for Arsenal’s league season at least. More

JAMIE VARDY may be leaving Leicester City at the end of the season – but that has not stopped him from lining up yet another landmark piece of Foxes history.Trust Vardy to grab a slice of the action – in more ways than one – as he turned from goalscorer to whistleblower.Jamie Vardy opened the scoring in the matchCredit: GettyJordan Ayew doubled the lead before half-timeCredit: ReutersRuud van Nistelrooy’s side may be heading back to the Championship, but Vardy scored the first Premier League goal seen at the King Power Stadium since December.And that puts him one away from the 200-milestone for the club since joining from Fleetwood Town in 2012.He put Leicester ahead after 17 minutes after great work on the left by Bilal El Khannouss. His cross found Vardy who lashed the ball home with his left foot.It ended a run of nine home games without a goal – the last time was on December 8 against Brighton.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLFoxes fans then sang ‘We’ve scored a goal’.But Vardy also found time to raise another laugh among Leicester supporters.When ref David Webb went down injured after colliding with Leicester’s Jordan Ayew, Vardy reached down and blew the official’s whistle to stop the game.It then became obvious that Webb – making his debut as a Premier League ref – was unable to carry on and a 12-minute delay followed while a replacement fourth official was found.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSWhen the game resumed, Leicester increased their lead when Jordan Ayew found the net.Ayew’s free-kick from 20 yards hit the wall,  but he cleared the path for another attempt and drilled home the rebound from the edge of the area.Jamie Vardy anounces he’s LEAVING Leicester in emotional video with striker left close to tears after 13 yearsBut rock bottom Southampton still cannot get to that magic 12 point mark that would keep them out of the record books.Their 11-point tally means that they are still on course for a share of having the worst ever Premier League return – an unwanted mention they currently share with Derby County.Saints rarely looked like pulling back Leicester’s lead and their fans turned on interim boss Simon Rusk in the second half.Rusk took off Matty Fernandes just before the hour – minutes after he had had a goal ruled out for offside.The travelling fans chanted ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ and sang Fernandes’ name for the remainder of the game.Anyone who thought this game was the deadest of dead rubbers – with both teams relegated was made to think again.Although Southampton showed why they are going down in a game they might have been expected to take something from.Off the field, Leicester fans made their views known in numbers.A banner aimed at the owner Top Srivaddhanaprabha and Director of Football, Jon Rudkin, read: ‘Top, Rudkin, what’s so funny’. However, because the club were showing the broadcaster’s feed on the big screen, it was magnified in front of the entire stadium before the pictures were taken down.Read More on The SunThere were also chants of ‘sack the board’ – but they disappeared once Vardy had scored.Vardy was given a standing ovation as he left the field – and will now aim for his history-making goal at East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest next weekend.Referee David Webb was forced offCredit: GettyVardy was quick to act to help the officialCredit: GettySouthampton remain stuck on 11 pointsCredit: Getty More