Alex Scott’s 74th-minute winner earned Bournemouth a brilliant 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, stunning Arsenal and blowing the Premier League title race wide open once again.
The result means Manchester City, nine points behind Arsenal in second place but with two games in hand, know they will draw level on points with the Gunners if they win their next three matches. One of those will carry enormous significance — City host Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium next weekend, and victory for Guardiola’s side on that occasion would put them firmly in the driving seat for the title.
Bournemouth made their intentions clear early. Adrien Truffert got in behind Ben White and his low cross deflected up off William Saliba, leaving young French striker Eli Kroupi Junior with a simple finish. It was his 10th Premier League goal of the season, making him the youngest player to reach double figures in a debut campaign since Robbie Keane for Coventry City in 1999-2000.
Arsenal should have levelled almost immediately when Kai Havertz inexplicably headed a Declan Rice corner over from close range. Viktor Gyokeres made no such mistake from the spot in the 35th minute, blasting home after Ryan Christie handled to bring the scores level. It was the Sweden international’s 18th goal of the season in all competitions — only two players have bettered that tally in a debut campaign for Arsenal in the Premier League era.
The Gunners went into the break without having completed the turnaround, and Mikel Arteta had seen enough by the 54th minute, bringing on Leandro Trossard, Eberechi Eze and Max Dowman simultaneously — the earliest he has made three substitutions in a Premier League match. But the changes failed to settle the nerves, with David Raya twice causing panic and Gabriel Magalhães playing the ball against a teammate with Bournemouth attackers pressing.
That defensive uncertainty ultimately proved costly. Gabriel’s lofted pass out from the back was partially blocked, David Brooks found Evanilson, who slipped the ball into Scott’s path, and the England midfielder coolly slotted home. Arsenal had now conceded two or more goals in three of their last four matches in all competitions — as many times as in their previous 17 games — with their defensive frailty arriving at the worst possible moment.
There was little by way of a late response. Gyokeres sent an unmarked header wide before also shooting off target, and a last-ditch Alex Jimenez tackle denied Gabriel when a chance briefly opened up. Bournemouth held on comfortably, extending their unbeaten league run to 12 matches and boosting their European ambitions in the process.
