Report: Arsenal 3 – 2 Bournemouth (incl. goals)

Result: Arsenal 3 – 2 Bournemouth
Competition: Premier League
Date: 4 March 2023
Venue: The Emirates Stadium

Arsenal: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, Vieira, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Trossard

Subs: Turner, Tierney, White, Kiwior, Holding, Smith Rowe, Xhaka, Jorginho, Nelson

In what can be described as the most frantic game of the season (yet), Arsenal came from 2 goals down to win 3-2 at home against Bournemouth in the final seconds of the game.

Bournemouth went ahead within the 9th second and doubled their lead early in the second half. Arsenal rallied back with goals from Partey and White but the biggest moment came from substitute Reiss Nelson who volleyed from outside the box with the final kick of the game for Arsenal to take home all 3 points.

Pre-Match

Arteta rang some changes on the pitch after their big mid-week win over Everton. Xhaka was rested for Vieira who took up the “left 8” position to combine with Martinelli. Tomiyasu slotted in at right back in place of Ben White.

Trossard retained his place upfront as Nketiah nursed a minor injury.

First Half

9 seconds. That was all it took for Bournemouth to draw first blood at the Emirates. The away team kicked off by playing the ball to the right wing. Dango crossed it in which evaded everyone except for Billing who ghosted in from deep to tap in a goal and send the stadium into shock. 0-1 Bournemouth

The Arsenal had to respond. They pushed high up and stretched the play while playing at a high tempo. The immediately had 3 attempts in the next 5 minutes by Odegaard and Saka which were well saved by Neto. The home side had to stay patient and stretch the pitch to break down a stout Bournemouth side.

Despite the dominance, the next big chance came to Bournemouth. The away team countered after defending a corner and Billing was put through. He squared for his strikers only for Ramsdale to rush out and deflect the ball to keep the score as is. Arsenal had to face more adversity as Trossard hobbled off with what seemed a muscle strain, and was replaced by Smith Rowe on the 20th minute mark.

Arsenal won a lot of corners, but can’t just couldn’t find a cleat cut opportunity. Bournemouth were solid and compact for the rest of the half but the Gunners also looked off the pace – especially with Tomiyasu and Saka not always combining efficiently with each other.

The home side should have been given a penalty for a tackle on Tomiyasu but oddly again, VAR didn’t think too much about it after review.

Second Half

It wasn’t the best first half by Tomiyasu and it wasn”t a surprise White replaced him as the team came out of the break.

The game continued in the same vein as it ended – the Gunners had 87% possession but just couldn’t apply the killer touch. And Neto was slowing the game down every chance he had the ball in his hands.

Bournemouth took their time again with a corner kick on the 55th minute but unfortunately, left Senesi unguarded, and conceded a second and had a mountain to climb. 0-2 Bournemouth

The Gunners striked back just a few minutes later through a corner. Neto punched the ball away and Smith Rowe headed the ball back into the box for Partey to tap in amidst ball watching defenders. 1-2 Arsenal

Solanke had an attempt from an acute angle saved again by Ramsdale and confidence was a little rattled among the fans. It seemed like nothing was going well. A push on Martinelli in the box wasn’t penalised for a penalty and Smith Rowe, a sub himself, was substituted out on the 65th minute as he had a quiet game even after providing an assist for Partey.

On came Reiss Nelson, himself coming back from injury, to provide some pace down the left. He provided the afterburners to beat his defender and whip in a cross from Ben White who volleyed home an equaliser. 2-2 Arsenal

Confidence flowed and a new found urgency was found again. Saka’s strike hit the post via a deflection, Martinelli missed from a counter attack and the Gunners kept pushing on. In their haste to find a winning goal, Arsenal’s passing started getting sloppy and Bournemouth players were more than happy to waste time by going down for cramp.

The pace remained frantic and nerves were frayed. With all the time wasting and nervous energy, fans were ready to call it in and accept the draw. All except Reiss Nelson.

With the last kick of the game, he collected the ball outside of the box after a corner clearance and calmly half volleyed into the top corner with his left foot. 3-2 REISS FREAKING NELSON

What a ride. What a game. What a goal. It’s moments like this that could propel the team to finish the season strong and build that belief that they could be champions.

It’s time to belief. C’mon Arsenal!