Arsenal’s trip to Bournemouth did not start off in particularly exciting fashion as neither side was able to create many chances in the first-half, with the few that were made being wasted. However, the team talks of the two managers must have stirred something in the sides, with some far better play ensuing.
Arsenal took the lead via the boot of Hector Bellerin, but Bournemouth hit back through goals from Callum Wilson and Jordon Ibe, thus turning the game on its head. Arsenal saw a lot of the ball in the closing stages, but they rarely threatened, with their hosts staying incredibly compact and organised to keep their visitors out.
The Gunners have fallen even further behind in the race for a top-four spot, while Bournemouth have eased the pressure on manager Eddie Howe, with the side moving four points clear of the relegation zone.
A Bright start for both teams
With Arsenal hardly in the best of form in the league and Bournemouth near to the relegation zone, the fans would be forgiven for assuming this would be a cagey affair with a single goal deciding the game. However, while the first-half was a rather dull affair, the match started with both sides looking to attack, and this was epitomised by their full-backs.
First, Bournemouth came forward in the opening minutes as they utilised their width to stretch Arsenal. This allowed Adam Smith to flash a shot just wide of Pert Cech’s goal. It was then Arsenal’s turn to attack with their backline as Hector Bellerin was played into the box via a delicious ball from Jack Wilshere, but his initial cross was blocked before his second-attempt was hacked away.
Bellerin’s counterpart on the opposite side of the pitch then created a chance for himself as he so nearly opened the scoring. Ainsley Maitland-Niles wriggled and turned in the box as Bournemouth’s players stood off before he moved it on and curled a shot that hit the top of the bar and went out for a goal kick. With Asmir Begovic left stranded as he watched the shot fly past him, he and Bournemouth were left counting their lucky stars are the youngster had put just too much elevation on his shot.
Both sides waste the few chances they have
The first-half will hardly be remembered as a classic, indeed, it will not be synonymous with quality either, with both sides really struggling to knit together any moments of real danger. Worse still, the few moments either side did have were wasted as the fans were left without a goal to celebrate.
Danny Welbeck was the guilty party for the visitors as he was unable to make the most of a one-on-one chance. Alexandre Lacazette turned provider as he played a delightfully weighted through-ball into Welbeck who did well to shrug off the challenge of Bournemouth’s defenders to find himself up against Begovic. However, he rushed his finish as the goalkeeper spread himself well to deflect the ball away. The striker, who has been in poor form this season, should have made more of the chance, and it left Arsenal level with their opponents.
Ryan Fraser was then given the chance to put Bournemouth ahead, but he also failed. Jordan Ibe danced past Maitland-Niles as the youngster displayed his inexperience by sliding in, giving Ibe the chance to drill the ball across goal to Fraser at the back post, but his effort was blocked brilliantly by Calum Chambers.
Bellerin opens the scoring
All of the problems Arsenal were posing Bournemouth were coming on the hosts left as they struggled to deal with the width the Gunners had. Following some quick play in the middle, Alex Iwobi was able to play the ball out to Hector Bellerin who, as ever, was a willing runner. Charlie Daniels seemed to have the full-back covered, but he made the wrong decision as he chose to hold the defensive line, allowing Bellerin to run in behind and score.
The effort from the right-back was hardly his best-struck goal, but it put the Gunners a goal to the good. Asmir Begovic was able to get a hand to the ball, but from such close range, and with the power Bellerin put on the ball, the goalkeeper could not keep it out as he was able to turn around and watch the ball creep agonisingly over the line.
Eddie Howe will be hugely disappointed with the way in which his team conceded, with their left-hand side being caused problems constantly. Perhaps more defensive reinforcements were needed, with the goal coming as a hammer blow to their chances of winning the game and, indeed, Daniels was withdrawn just after the hour mark.
Wilson stabs home to make it 1-1 before Ibe smashes home
Following the Arsenal goal, Bournemouth decided that it would not be enough to sit back and hope that something would happen as they chose to get forward and put the Gunners under pressure, and that is where the goal came from.
Ryan Fraser was making his customary run down the line as he utilised his pace to burst forward before putting in a superbly directed cross. Cech chose to come for the ball but he was beaten to it buy Callum Wilson, with the pacy striker able to poke the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper to send the home fans into jubilant celebration. It was no less than the home side deserved as they had been the better of the two teams following the goal, and it meant that Arsenal were now involved in a proper scrap.
Their response got even better as they went ahead via Jordon Ibe. Wilson held the ball up superbly as he knocked it down for Ibe to smash in. The ball did hit Cech on the way in, but he would have been unsighted by a number of players, with Bournemouth making it 2-1.
Iwobi and Xhaka struggle as Bournemouth heap the pressure on Arsenal
It was not Arsenal’s day as their struggles were epitomised by Alex Iwobi and Granit Xhaka. Iwobi was able to assist Bellerin’s goal, but other than that he was poor. His passing was wayward, his touches were sloppy, and despite finding a lot of space in the game, he rarely threatened. Xhaka was even worse as he cost his side a goal. Wilson was able to knock the ball back onto the edge of the box and, with Ibe running, Xhaka chose not to track back despite seeing the soon to be goalscorer bursting past him. It was incredible when taking into account the fact that the Swiss international is meant to be a defensive midfielder, as he clearly shirked his duties at the worst possible moment.
Bournemouth, on the whole, were very good in the second-half. They were diligent in defence as they kept Arsenal to optimistic crosses and long-shots. The victory means they have moved up into 13th-place with 24 points, four clear of the relegation zone following back-to-back home wins. Arsenal on the other hand remain in sixth with 39 points, five short of Tottenham in fifth, while if Liverpool win on Sunday, then they would be eight short of Liverpool in the last Champions League place.
Bournemouth: Begovic 6 – Francis 7, Ake 7, S. Cook 7 – Smith 6, Gosling 7, L. Cook 6, Daniels 4 (Mousset 6) – Fraser 7, Ibe 7.5 (Pugh 6) – Wilson 8 (Afobe 6).
Unused subs: Boruc, Simpson, Surman, Arter.
Arsenal: Cech 5 – Chambers 5 (Ramsey 5), Mustafi 5, Holding 5 – Bellerin 5, Wilshere 7, Xhaka 4, Maitland-Niles 5 – Iwobi 4 (Walcott 5), Welbeck 4 – Lacazette 5.
Unused subs: Ospina, Kolasinac, Mertesacker, Elneny, Nketiah.
Referee: Kevin Friend.
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