Arsenal’s hopes of an unprecedented quadruple may be over, but the PL and UEFA Champions League (UCL) still offer opportunities for Mikel Arteta’s squad to write themselves into Gunners history.
However, the Cherries entered this clash unbeaten in 11 PL matches – the longest active run in the league – and they broke the deadlock with the game’s first shot on target a little over 15 minutes in. Eli Junior Kroupi was the goalscorer, tapping in at the far post for his 10th goal in the top flight this campaign after Adrien Truffert’s low cross was deflected into his path by William Saliba.
As has often been the case domestically in recent weeks, Arsenal struggled to get going before the break, but they were given a lifeline around the half-hour mark.
Gabriel Magalhaes’ close-range effort struck the hand of Ryan Christie, convincing referee Michael Oliver to point to the penalty spot, from which Viktor Gyokeres buried the subsequent spot-kick with aplomb.
Nevertheless, between then and the end of the half, the visitors looked the more dangerous, with David Raya holding a low Evanilson shot and Alex Scott firing over the bar from outside the box.
After the restart, Bournemouth remained positive and enjoyed plenty of possession inside Arsenal’s half. The hosts, meanwhile, were clearly struggling with the backdrop of an expectant home crowd, and their nerves were clear for all to see.
They did have the ball in the back of the net midway through the half, but Gyokeres was offside when he picked up the ball before stroking past Dorde Petrovic.
With Arsenal needing someone to step up and take the game by the scruff of the neck, stand-in captain Declan Rice duly obliged, forcing Petrovic to tip over the crossbar with a fierce effort from distance
At the other end, Christie and Scott directed attempts well over the bar, but the latter struck a significant blow to Arsenal’s title hopes in the 74th minute when he confidently dispatched beyond Raya after the ball was poked into his path by Evanilson.
In response, Arteta’s men pushed forward in search of an equaliser, and Petrovic had to be alert to push substitute Gabriel Jesus’ header behind.
Ultimately, though, Arsenal did not exert enough pressure on the Bournemouth backline in the final stages as the Cherries held on for all three points.
The result temporarily moves them into the PL top half ahead of the rest of the weekend’s fixtures, and Andoni Iraola deserves plenty of credit for the way he has got his side playing despite the departure of several star players over the last year.
In contrast, Arteta will be increasingly concerned at his team’s lack of mettle as they approach the business end of the season, and he will be expecting a reaction when Arsenal host Sporting CP on Wednesday.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Alex Scott (Bournemouth)
Click here to see all the stats of the match.
