Arsenal vs Bournemouth Report

Scorers: Rice 34’; Huijsen 67’, Evanilson 75’

Arsenal’s grip on a top-two Premier League finish loosened on Saturday after a shock 2-1 home defeat to AFC Bournemouth, who completed their first-ever league double over the Gunners. Declan Rice’s milestone 100th appearance brought a moment of joy with his opening goal, but a resilient Cherries performance turned the tide, leaving Mikel Arteta’s side with work to do ahead of their Champions League clash midweek.

First Half – Rice Marks Century with Composed Opener

Despite having one eye on their looming UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against PSG, Arsenal fielded a strong side, eager to secure their place in the top two. The early signs were promising, with Declan Rice and Gabriel Martinelli combining well and the midfielder firing a couple of warning shots wide.

However, it was Bournemouth who nearly struck first, with Evanilson missing a gilt-edged chance from close range after a pinpoint Milos Kerkez cross. The Cherries looked dangerous on the counter, but Arsenal made the breakthrough on the half-hour mark. Martin Ødegaard slid a perfectly timed pass to Rice, who rounded Kepa Arrizabalaga and slotted into the net for a composed finish that capped his landmark outing.

Evanilson reminded the hosts of his threat just before the break, nearly catching David Raya off his line with a speculative long-range strike that narrowly cleared the bar.

Second Half – Semenyo and Evanilson Complete Turnaround

Arsenal came out strongly after the interval and nearly doubled their lead as Bukayo Saka cut inside onto his favoured left foot and fired just wide. But despite dominating possession, the Gunners were undone in the 67th minute when substitute Antoine Semenyo hurled a long throw into the box. Dean Huijsen met it with a brilliant flicked header that nestled in the far corner, levelling the match against the run of play.

The Emirates was silenced just ten minutes later when Bournemouth took the lead from a corner. Marcus Tavernier’s near-post flick was met by Evanilson, who bundled the ball over the line from close range. A lengthy VAR check followed for a potential handball and offside, but the goal stood – despite replays suggesting a possible infraction – sparking furious protests from the home crowd.

What It Means

Arsenal’s second consecutive home defeat across all competitions deals a blow to their hopes of finishing above Manchester City and Liverpool. They now face increased pressure from teams below them in the fight for the top five, especially with Champions League distraction looming. Meanwhile, Bournemouth’s incredible run continues, as they move into eighth place with a legitimate shot at securing European football for the first time in their history.

Key Stats

• Arsenal suffered back-to-back home defeats for the first time since January 2023.
• Bournemouth claimed their first-ever Premier League win at the Emirates Stadium.
• Declan Rice made his 100th Arsenal appearance, scoring his eighth goal of the season.
• The Cherries are now unbeaten in three straight games against Arsenal.

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Arsenal v Bournemouth, 2024/25 | Premier League