Bournemouth vs Arsenal Review
Bournemouth secured a hard-earned Premier League 2-0 victory against 10-man Arsenal at the Vitality Stadium, breaking a streak of five consecutive defeats in their head-to-head matchups. Bukayo Saka’s absence, only the fourth time he has missed a PL match since the 2021/22 season, likely contributed to a lackluster first 25 minutes on the South Coast.
However, a pivotal moment occurred at the half-hour mark when William Saliba clashed with Evanilson. Referee Robert Jones initially issued a yellow card to Saliba for bringing down the Bournemouth forward, who was making a run behind the Arsenal defense. But after a VAR review, Saliba received the first red card of his professional career.
Raheem Sterling was the unfortunate player taken off by Mikel Arteta as the Gunners adapted to yet another red card, shortly after Mikel Merino missed the visitors’ only real opportunity of the half by shooting wide. With the numerical advantage, Bournemouth ended the first half on a high note, launching several promising attempts at the Arsenal goal, the best being Antoine Semenyo’s near-post shot from a tight angle, which David Raya managed to deflect.
Continuing their offensive play after the break, the Cherries squandered a great chance to take the lead when Antoine Semenyo shot over the bar while unmarked in the box. Clear chances became scarce, prompting Andoni Iraola to make three substitutions after the hour mark to capitalize on his team’s advantage. Unwilling to sit back, Arsenal nearly took advantage of a mistake by Kepa Arrizabalaga, but substitute Gabriel Martinelli could only manage a weak shot directly at Kepa.
Typically praised for their effectiveness in set pieces, the Gunners found themselves on the receiving end of a well-executed corner this time, going behind with 20 minutes left in the match. Two substitutes linked up when Justin Kluivert’s subtle flick set up Ryan Christie, who was unmarked in the box and struck the ball into the top-left corner. The Cherries appeared to secure a rare victory 10 minutes later when Raya fouled Evanilson in the penalty area, allowing Kluivert to extend Bournemouth’s lead from the penalty spot.
Arsenal had no answer and suffered their first away Premier League defeat of the year, losing to Bournemouth for the first time since January 2018. The Gunners also missed the chance to become only the second Premier League team, after Liverpool, to achieve 2,000 top-flight wins, as they prepare to face the Reds next weekend without the suspended Saliba. For now, Arteta’s team remains in third place in the league, while Bournemouth climbs into the top half, surpassing Manchester United on goal difference.
