Weak Arsenal limp to defeat against Bournemouth
Confidence low ahead of PSG clash
Saturday, 3rd May — By Tom Foot at the Emirates Stadium
FA PREMIER LEAGUE
ARSENAL 1 (Rice 34)
BOURNEMOUTH 2 (Huijsen 67, Evanilson 75)
ARSENAL go to Paris without any fresh injuries but low on confidence after a sloppy performance ended in defeat at home to the Cherries.
The Gunners were undone by two set pieces – one nodded in from a long throw and another prodded home from a corner.
They never looked like equalising – and the match was played out in a flat atmosphere with few passages of play exciting enough to get the fans going.
There were sone eyebrows raised as Arteta chose not to rest anyone ahead of the PSG semi final on Wednesday – with only Jurien Timber left out of the squad.
Arsenal need four points from three remaining games to guarantee qualification for the Champions League – with a home fixture against whipping boys Southampton to come.
With Liverpool and Newcastle still to play, they could easily end up behind City – again – something that seemed inconceivable for the majority of the season.
After the match he said: “Today in many situations we are giving balls away that are nowhere near the standard.”
He added: “Maybe we lacked some freshness and we played players who weren’t in the best condition but we haven’t got the choices.”
Things were looking promising in the first half, with Declan Rice playing in a more attacking role.
Playing his 100th game for the Gunners since his big money signing two summers ago, he was freed up by the return of Thomas Partey.
Rice had two half chances to score before the opener – cut in after going round the keeper following an incisive pass from Martin Odegaard.
Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and – unusually – Bukayo Saka looked subdued and barely threatened.
Bournemouth had had two decent chances in the first half – through Evanilson and Kluivert. And the equaliser seemed inevitable.
It came from a long throw from Semeyno, that was nodded into the far corner by Huijsen – somehow climbing highest in a box packed with Arsenal defenders.
It was a poor goal to concede – but worse was to come. A corner swung in to the near post was flicked on to Evanilson who prodded it past David Raya.
Raya had looked shaky throughout the match and made no saves at all in the whole game.
He effectively let the winner in through his legs in an awkward fumble.
Instead of rousing come back from Arsenal, it was Bournemouth that looked more likely to score another.
The away fans were ole-ing as south coasters notched a double over the Gunners and their first ever win in away to Arsenal.
Reflecting on Arsenal’s defending, Arteta said: “It’s not only what you score, it’s the difference in gap between the ones that you score and the ones that you concede.
“We have conceded a lot, especially recently, which are costing us a lot of points. That’s clear and that’s everybody’s responsibility. But as well, credit to the opposition. Today they’ve done it really well.
“Somebody is able to throw the ball in the middle of the goal to a guy that is taller than anybody else. He’s the one in the back of the net. We really want to do better, but it’s difficult.”
Arsenal: Raya, Lewis-Skelly, Kiwior, Saliba, White (Zinchenko 86), Rice (Merino 74), Partey, Odegaard, Martinelli (Trossard, Saka (,
Subs not used: Butler-Oyedeji, Clarke, Gower, Setford, Tierney
Bournemouth: Kepa, Kerkez, Huijsen, Zabarnvi, Araujo (Scott 65), Cook, Adams, Ouattara (Brooks 74), KluivertTavernier, Evanilson (Dennis, Hill, Senesi, Smith, Soler
