Arteta: The most emotional moment we have lived together

Games don’t come crazier than the one that played out at Emirates Stadium this afternoon as Arsenal fought back from two goals down to snatch a dramatic 3-2 win against Bournemouth at the death.

In theory, the Gunners should have made light work of a home match against a relegation-threatened side but after conceding inside 10 seconds and then again just before the hour mark, they, and the capacity crowd at the Emirates, were put through the wringer.

A tough task was made all the more tense given title rivals Manchester City had beaten Newcastle in the early kick off to close the gap at the top to two points. Somehow though, Arsenal found a way.

First, Thomas Partey converted from close range as Emile Smith Rowe kept a corner alive, and then Ben White scored his first goal for the club with a bouncing effort that needed to be confirmed by goalline technology.

At that point, the Gunners still had 20 minutes to find a winner. It felt inevitable that it would happen. Until it didn’t. But just when all hope seemed to have faded, substitute Reiss Nelson produced a stunning half-volley finish from the edge of the box that sent the home fans, players and staff into raptures.

The ball actually hit the net 59 seconds after the six minutes of allotted stoppage had been played; somewhat awkward for the visitors who paid the ultimate price for their deliberate timewasting.

In his post-game press conference, manager Mikel Arteta was asked if he believes in fate. He responded, “I do, yes. Why? It was an extraordinary day, a beautiful experience at the end. Very dramatic, but worth living it because it was a great end.”

Living it was easier said than done. Heart rates were racing everywhere. He was quizzed on whether his had settled down.

“It’s crazy – you lose sight of where you are. I started to run and didn’t really know what I was running to. Just looking at the faces of everybody – the staff, the players, our supporters with those smiles and that joy in their eyes. It’s just great to live.

He added: “Probably the loudest and the most emotional moment we have lived together [at the Emirates]. The journey we have been on togethe…how the supporters and the team are together, added to that moment we had today. It was really special.”

For Reiss Nelson, an Arsenal player since he was nine years old, this was a special day. The winger hadn’t been in the last two matchday squads but, in the absence of Eddie Nketiah, was included today. He entered the fray on 69 minutes as a replacement for the tiring Emile Smith Rowe, himself a substitute after Leandro Trossard was injury, and made an impact inside 60 seconds, crossing for White’s equaliser.

To then score such a dramatic winner was worthy of a Hollywood script. Nelson will be out of contract in the summer and has made it clear he’s keen to stay at the club. Having also made a match-winning contribution against Nottingham Forest earlier in the season, he’s staking a claim for a new deal.

“I always saw the potential, the talent and the desire for him to do it but I think he’s at a different level right now,” said Arteta.

“I think emotionally, the experiences he’s had has helped him. Football-wise, it was my decision not to put him in the squad in the last two games because we had other options.

“But he’s knocking on the door. He’s been training really well and it’s a good lesson for me and the coaches that we need him and that he can really be important in the team.”

Asked whether he was willing Nelson to shoot when the ball fell to the winger from the final play, he added: “I don’t know. In training, if we told him 50 times to put it there, I don’t know if he would score but he did it in the perfect moment for the team, for himself. He fully deserves that moment, the kid.”

Arsenal’s challenge is to maintain the momentum they’ve built since losing to Manchester City in February. 12 games remain and there’s the added complication of European football being thrown into the mix.

“That’s four in a row – winning four games in a row in the Premier League is very difficult,” said Arteta.

“We’ve won three in a week, which is even harder, and we’ve done it in various ways. That should generate more belief.

“Today, a lot of things went against the team. Our fault for the first one, then the fact we weren’t scoring, the situation with Leo, the set play they had when they scored. The team still found a way to win the game and that’s really positive.”