3 May 2025
Arsenal 1 Bournemouth 2
Pundits will have you believe that Arsenal’s focus is on the Champions League like they have downed tools in the Premier League, leading to Liverpool winning the trophy. As we have seen over recent seasons, even when The Gunners focus is on the title race, it does not really affect the champions. They welcomed Bournemouth to The Emirates, with The Cherries still hoping to qualify for Europe.
The only thing worse than Mikel Arteta’s attempt of challenging for the title this campaign was that woeful tifo against PSG. Arsenal started well and had the first glimpse of goal when Rice was played in, albeit wide in the penalty area. He tried to whip a left-footed shot into the far corner but sent it well wide of the target.
As Bournemouth then came forward, Kerkez swung in a sublime cross towards Evanilson in the middle. The Brazilian striker was completely unmarked on the edge of the six yard box but somehow headed over the crossbar. It was a massive chance for the visitors to take the lead and boy did he know it as he lay on the floor with his head in his hands.
Kepa and Kerkez then got into trouble near their own goal as Trossard dispossessed the full-back. He played a pass into Saka, who then picked out Martinelli on the edge of the box. He shifted it to his left-foot and dragged a shot well wide of the target. The Brazilian winger’s shooting is like giving a toddler an AR-15 assault rifle, where it goes, nobody knows.
He tried to make amends as he got to the byline and clipped a cross into the middle but Trossard’s header was well saved by Kepa. Moments later Odegaard slotted a pass in behind The Cherries’ defence for Rice, who took it around the keeper and drilled it into the empty net. Finally Mikel Arteta’s side had broken the deadlock in this match.
Raya, who was signed for his ability with the ball at his feet, then gifted it to the visitors with a dreadful pass. It was played into Evanilson, who tried to clip an effort over the backtracking keeper. Once again, he got his angles all wrong as it sailed over the target. Andoni Iraola’s side should have been ahead in this game but their poor finishing was costing them dearly.
The keeper is amusing to watch after any one of his many errors. He smiles at his defenders and gives them a thumbs up like a simpleton who has just been prevented from electrocuting himself as he tries to wedge a fork in a mains outlet. He is one of many contributory factors in this team which makes it seem impossible for them to end their 22-year league trophy drought.
After the interval, The Gunners almost doubled their lead as Saka found himself wide in the box on the left. He cut inside onto his right-foot and drilled an effort towards the far corner, that narrowly missed the goal. The winger has not looked clinical in front of goal at all this season and Arteta’s side look blunt in attack without his goals.
As the hosts tried to press for another goal, it was like watching a kickabout in a school playground. The Gunners were letting the ball the bounce, struggling to get it under control and running around like headless chickens. The Cherries looked to capitalise as Semenyo broke clear down the right wing, but a heavy touch in the box gave the defender the chance to put it behind for a corner.
Moments later, the visitors had a throw-in deep in the final third. Semenyo launched a long one into the box and Huijsen rose to head home and draw The Cherries level. So much for this impenetrable Arsenal back line, they were all static and acting like voyeurs, watching things unfold. Iraola celebrated on the touchline with a touch of the Mourinho about him.
Scott then bundled his way through the Arsenal defence and, try as they might, the hosts could not clear their lines. One thing is for sure, if The Gunners defend like this in Paris, they are going to opened up like a Victorian prostitute who has just met her next client called Jack. Tavernier rifled off a shot at goal but it deflected over the crossbar.
As the cross was whipped into the box, Tavernier flicked it on towards the far post. Evanilson bundled it over the line as Raya showed why close friends nicknamed him poppadom hands. It was a dreadful attempt at a save from the Spaniard. Bournemouth held on for the three points and you could not argue that it was exactly what they deserved.
It was the first time The Cherries had done the double over Arsenal in the league in the club’s history. The victory took Bournemouth up to eighth in the table and very much kept their European qualification hopes alive. Mikel Arteta said his team need to take their frustration and anger over this performance into their Champions League semi-final Wednesday, I bet PSG are trembling as we speak.
Fun fact, Arsenal have conceded 48% of their Premier League goals this season from set-pieces. This is the same team that have a mural of their set-piece coach. Embarrassing. The man who loves his moment in the spotlight when they are attacking, stood on the touchline pretending to give the team instructions in a ground full of 60,000 people like they can hear him. Ironically, he was sat in his seat quiet as a mouse for both of Bournemouth’s goals.
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