Arsenal 3-2 Bournemouth: Premier League leaders claim dramatic win after recovering from two-goal deficit
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Updated 04/03/2023 at 19:58 GMT
Arsenal looked to be in big trouble when they slipped to two goals behind against Bournemouth at home in their Premier League encounter at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, but Mikel Arteta's side managed to roar back in the second half with goals from Thomas Partey, Ben White and then a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Reiss Nelson to cap a remarkable comeback.
Arteta: Arsenal's comeback win over Bournemouth was a 'beautiful experience'
Arsenal conceded a goal after nine seconds but fought back from 2-0 down to claim a thrilling 3-2 win against Bournemouth in a Premier League classic.
Philip Billing stunned the Gunners by ghosting into the box to score in the opening minute from close range from Dango Ouattara's low cross, the second-fastest goal in Premier League history.
The Gunners, who lost Leandro Trossard to injury, launched wave after wave of attacks with Martin Odegaard going close from distance.
Mikel Arteta's side had 87 per cent possession in the first half and nine corners, but the out-of-form Cherries defended superbly and were agonisingly close to increasing their lead when Aaron Ramsdale raced off his line to keep out Ouattara's shot.
The second half was a similar story with the home side dominating possession and carving out a series of chances, but the Emirates was stunned again when from a corner, Marcos Senesi headed in at the near post to double their lead.
The Gunners reduced their deficit after goalkeeper Neto opted to punch the ball clear, allowing Emile Smith Rowe to head the ball back into the area and Thomas Partey was there to score.
Arteta replaced Smith Rowe, who had come on for the injured Trossard, with Reiss Nelson and the substitute made an instant impact with his cross converted by fellow substitute Ben White for his first goal for the club.
Gary O'Neil's side looked set to hold on for a point, only for Nelson to contribute in a very big way yet again with a sweetly struck shot deep into stoppage time to grab an astonishing comeback victory for the delirious hosts.
TALKING POINT - Arteta gets his substitutions spot on again
Starting with Takehiro Tomiyasu wasn't working so White was brought on at half-time. And Arteta made the difficult decision to sub off a sub in Smith Rowe and bring on Nelson who made the difference.
Despite conceding after nine seconds there was no sense of panic from Arteta and his team. Just like the 4-2 win over Aston Villa last month where they conceded early on again and needed stoppage-time goals to win, the Gunners kept creating chance after chance and did not give up.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Reiss Nelson (Arsenal)
He may have only have come on in the 69th minute but Nelson was the match winner with the assist for White's goal and then scoring with a beautiful strike in the dying seconds. A memorable cameo for a player who has barely featured this season. If Arsenal do go onto win the league, they will pinpoint this game as one of the key victories given the comeback and Manchester City earlier beating Newcastle United.
PLAYER RATINGS
ARSENAL: Ramsdale 8, Tomiyasu 5, Saliba 6, Gabriel 6, Zinchenko 6; Partey 5, Vieira 6, Odegaard 7 Saka 7, Trossard n/a, Martinelli 6. Subs: Smith Rowe 6, White 8, Nelson 9, Xhaka n/a.
BOURNEMOUTH: Neto 6, Smith 7, Mepham 8, Stephens 7, Senesi 7, Zemura 7, Ouattara 7, Rothwell 8, Billing 7, Semenyo 7, Solanke 6. Subs: Anthony 6, Fredericks 5, Cook 5, Christie n/a.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:
1' - GOAL FOR BOURNEMOUTH! After eight seconds, Billing ghosts into the box to tuck it in from three yards from Ouattara's cross after Arsenal's defence goes to sleep!
57' - GOAL FOR BOURNEMOUTH! From Rothwell's corner, Senesi heads in at the near post. Oh my word!
62' - GOAL FOR ARSENAL! Neto opts to punch it instead of catching the ball, Smith Rowe heads it back in and Partey is there to score.
70' - GOAL FOR ARSENAL! Nelson with a low cross and White's half volley goes in, Neto was unable to stop it going over the line.
90'+6 - GOAL FOR ARSENAL! Zinchenko's shot towards goal takes a deflection and goes wide for a corner. The corner falls to Nelson on the edge of the box and his half-volley flies into the corner!
KEY STAT
Arsenal named a starting XI without a single player to have made a competitive appearance under Arsene Wenger for the first time since 22nd January 1986 vs Aston Villa in the League Cup.
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