Arsenal's inconsistent league performances continue
Arsenal 1 - 2 Bournemouth
Arsenal’s bid to gather momentum ahead of their crucial Champions League semi-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain was dealt a serious blow
Author - DJ
Stadium - Emirates Stadium
Bournemouth staged a superb second-half comeback to claim a famous win at the Emirates and bolster their own European aspirations.
A closer look at more lost points for Arsenal
Mikel Arteta opted against rotating his starting XI, naming a full-strength side despite the looming trip to Paris on Wednesday, where Arsenal must overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit to reach their first Champions League final since 2006. But despite that show of intent, his side were left reeling after a spirited Bournemouth performance turned the afternoon on its head.
It had all started according to plan for the hosts, with Declan Rice marking his 100th appearance for the club in style, rounding Kepa Arrizabalaga to give Arsenal a deserved lead midway through the first half. Yet Bournemouth, who had squandered several good chances before the break, refused to lie down.
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They found their breakthrough just past the hour mark when Dean Huijsen rose to meet Antoine Semenyo’s long throw with a powerful header. The Emirates fell further into stunned silence eight minutes later, as Evanilson bundled home from a corner to complete the turnaround and seal Bournemouth’s first-ever victory at Arsenal’s home ground.
While the Gunners remain second in the table, the defeat leaves them looking nervously over their shoulders, with Manchester City just three points behind and in ominous form. For Bournemouth, meanwhile, the result could prove transformative.
Belief grows on the south coast that they can qualify for Europe
It’s a result that will live long in the memory for Bournemouth supporters, and it might yet prove the turning point in their push for a maiden European campaign.
Having been in and around the mix for much of the season, a run of one win in nine before this weekend suggested Andoni Iraola’s side were starting to fade. But this performance – particularly the second-half showing – will have rekindled belief.
Semenyo’s impact off the bench was decisive, but whole side's energy and organisation in the latter stages caught Arsenal cold. With games against Aston Villa and Manchester City still to come, the path remains tough. But with this result, they’ve shown they can mix it with the best.
One happy supporter, Frank, summed it up after full-time: “We’ve done the double on Arsenal. We started well, lost our rhythm after their goal, but held firm till the break. The gaffer’s substitutions were spot-on in the second half, once we equalised, Arsenal looked clueless. The second goal was deserved, even if VAR took a while to give it. For once, it went our way!”
