Key events
David Hytner was at the Emirates this evening. Here’s his verdict. Thanks for reading this MBM.
Andoni Iraola talks to Sky. “We had our chances in the first half … we were playing well … the key was the set plays in the second half … the key in close games … at half-time we were playing well … a lot of the ball … good positions … decent chances … it was a matter of doing the same things … the subs … [Antoine Semenyo] coming from the bench was the spark when both teams were tired … I am really happy … today was longer that I expected from Antoine! … [Dean Huijsen] is playing very well … confident … we are not a very tall team so he is our biggest threat … he helps us a lot … we needed this one because we know the schedule, Villa, City … you have to get points you do not expect … we have missed a couple of chances lately.”
Mikel Arteta speaks to Sky Sports. “We had so many open situations … big opportunities to score … but we didn’t and when you defend the box like we did and concede two goals from set pieces, at this level it’s very difficult to earn the three points … we don’t finish the actions … we gave so many simple balls away … we didn’t kill them and then we gave them hope … [conceding at set pieces] is really something to improve … we did not create the positive momentum … it has certainly created a lot of anger, frustration, rage, disappointment … let’s use all of that for Wednesday, that’s what we have to do.”
He also reports that “there is a chance” Jurriën Timber won’t be available for the PSG match on Wednesday.
Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen – named player of the match – speaks to Sky Sports. “We knew that we never had a point here, so that motivated us more … we always give our all … it’s a really important three points for us … in the first half in phases we were good … in the second we put more rhythm into the match and it worked … honestly, I didn’t expect Antoine Semenyo could throw it that long! … I’m always joking with him and now I can’t make any more jokes … he’s a strong guy but I always say he can’t throw it that far … I guess he proved me wrong! … I wanted to grow as a player and improve … the rhythm of the Premier League, I have learned a lot … I’m really happy with my decision [to join Bournemouth] … I need to keep working hard and stay humble and try my best … if you’re good enough, you’re old enough, and that’s what we’re proving … this is such an important win for us … it would be great [to qualify for Europe] … everyone wants to be a part of making history … hopefully we can make it … I’m pretty relaxed … just a chill guy … I don’t think about [potential transfers] too much … at the moment I’m just having fun and it’s going well.”
A damning statistic courtesy of Sky Sports: of all the Premier League goals Arsenal have conceded this season, 48 percent of them have come from set pieces and corners. That’s the highest this season, with only Wolves (44 percent) coming anywhere close. The average in the league is 26 percent.
That’s a huge result for Bournemouth, and quite the response to being denied at the death last weekend by Manchester United. The Cherries move into eighth spot, which if the season ended today, would be enough for a spot in the European Conference League next season … providing Manchester City win the FA Cup final, that is. Arsenal meanwhile are suddenly looking over their shoulder, second place far from secure, with in-form Manchester City on the charge, and tricky matches at Liverpool and against Newcastle still to come.
Andoni Iraola and Mikel Arteta, boyhood Basque pals, embrace as the whistle goes. One man much happier than the other. That’s a thoroughly deserved victory for Bournemouth, who on the balance of play were arguably unlucky to trail at the end of the first half, and turned things around confidently in the second. It’s a historic victory at the home of Arsenal, who go into the second leg of their Champions League semi-final under a cloud. Their opponents PSG lost today as well – 2-1 at Strasbourg – but unlike Arsenal, they’ve won their league title, and rested nearly all of their big names today. Iraola hops around with joy in front of the Bournemouth fans; Arteta disappears down the tunnel with furrowed brow.
FULL TIME: Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth
Bournemouth’s hopes of European football are real. They complete their first-ever league double over Arsenal!
90 min +6: Partey tries to burst past Semenyo on the right. He goes over on the edge of the box and claims a penalty, but it was a fair shoulder barge, and the ball sails out for a goal kick. That should be that.
90 min +5: Kerkez wins the ball out on the left and passes to Semenyo. The full back wants a return pass, and he’s in space on the underlap, but Semenyo plays it cool, turning back and running down some clock.
90 min +4: Raya hoicks long, straight out of play for a goal kick. There goes that rare period of sustained Arsenal pressure.
90 min +3: … Odegaard blasts witlessly into the wall. But Arsenal come again, Sterling twisting down the left and cutting back for Odegaard, whose first-time shot is blocked immediately by Scott.
90 min +2: An Arsenal committee of Odegaard, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Sterling and Nwaneri discuss their options. And then …
90 min +1: Odegaard spins into space down the middle and draws a foul from Scott, who clumsily shoves him from behind. A free kick in a dangerous central position, just outside the D.
90 min: Bournemouth are six additional minutes away from completing their first-ever league double over Arsenal.
89 min: Nwaneri jinks down the inside-right channel and into the box, but can’t get past Kerkez and concedes a free kick. Pressure off.
87 min: Bournemouth make a change of their own, replacing the potential match-winner Evanilson with Jebbison.
86 min: Arsenal make a triple change, replacing Saka, Martinelli and White with Nwaneri, Sterling and Zinchenko.
85 min: Arsenal probe. Bournemouth push them slowly back up the field. The home fans groan. Their team on the verge of dropping more points from a winning position. Second place not locked down yet. Far from it.
83 min: Arsenal haven’t responded to falling behind at all. In fact, it’s Bournemouth who look the more likely right now. Brooks strips the ball off Merino, 30 yards out, but can’t find the killer pass to release Evanilson. Arsenal breathe again.
81 min: Bournemouth knock the ball around the back to a chorus of olés from the away end. Hey, we’ve got two Spanish managers here, why not.
79 min: That eight-minute double whammy has sucked all of the air out of the Emirates. You can hear the Bournemouth fans, to be fair. Meanwhile Kachilapo Mulongoti would like to make a persuasive defence of Mikel Arteta and his touchline antics: “I’m writing regarding the amount of emotional energy Arteta and other coaches use up on complaining about every incident. I think they view it as necessary for success, Arteta and other coaches like him feel that the best version of themselves is essentially a 12th player on the pitch. They have to be completely engaged with what is happening on the pitch because it maximizes their chances of success. Believe them when they say every detail matters, they truly believe it does.”
78 min: The goal stands! It’s not clear and obvious that the ball hit Evanilson on the arm. On Sky, former Arsenal striker Alan Smith gives his verdict: “Do you know what, I think that’s fair enough, there’s no conclusive evidence.”
77 min: This might have pinged off Evanilson’s elbow. If so, Arsenal are off the hook.
76 min: … but VAR will have a look at a possible handball by Evanilson and an offside. Cue some Stockley Park rock-and-roll.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth (Evanilson 75)
The corner’s sent in from the left. Tavernier flicks it on to the far stick, where Evanilson, falling backwards, wins a tussle with Odegaard and forces the ball through Raya and in!
74 min: While Ouattara is being seen to, Rice is replaced by Merino. Then Ouattara makes way for Brooks. And then the corner …
73 min: Now it’s Ouattara’s turn to cross from the left. Tavernier takes up possession and shoots. Deflected. Over. Before the corner can be taken, Ouattara goes down and requires treatment.
71 min: Bournemouth are suddenly first to everything. Kerkez crosses from the left but Saliba eyebrows clear just in time.
69 min: That was Bournemouth’s first attempt on target. And now look. Arsenal are a bit shocked by that. Shell-shocked, in fact, when you consider the aquatic theme on Bournemouth’s shirt.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Bournemouth (Huijsen 67)
From the resulting throw, Semenyo launches long. His throw finds the head of Huijsen, who directs a simple header towards the top left. It loops over Raya and in. Easy as that! What an instant impact Semenyo has made!
