Arsenal pulled off yet another dramatic win as they came from an unlikely 2-0 down against Bournemouth, overcame VAR refusing to give them any of the four penalty calls and claimed all three points with the last kick of the game.
When Reiss Nelson came on in the 69th minute, I didn’t think he would have enough to make the difference.
How wrong I was.
An assist to draw Arsenal level was followed by an absolute beauty of a goal from the edge of the box in the 98th minute of the game.
https://twitter.com/EmanDaGoon/status/1632072660971601921
Nobody could say it wasn’t deserved.
Although Bournemouth had taken an unlikely lead in the 9th second (nine seconds 11 milliseconds, the second fastest in Premier League history), Arsenal dominated the entire match.
Quite how they found themselves two down, nobody could quite tell, but VAR seemed determined to keep it that way.
What looked like three clear handballs were denied while Takehiro Tomiyasu was kicked from behind. Nothing doing.
In the end, Arsenal didn’t need any help from VAR which was fortunate as they weren’t going to get it.
At what point do we, as a club, start asking serious questions of PGMOL?
These are penalty decisions not given in just one game. Shambles pic.twitter.com/ZJH0X6z1FD
— P™ (@SemperFiArsenal) March 4, 2023
Arsenal v Bournemouth key moments – 1st half
- Arsenal conceded after just nine seconds and 11 milliseconds, the second fastest goal scored in Premier League history
- Arsenal appeared to be denied two clear penalties, first when a Bournemouth defender controlled the ball with his had and second when Tomiyasu’s foot was clearly kicked in the box.
- Leandro Trossard was taken of after just 22 minutes with an injury, replaced by Emile Smith Rowe.
- Arsenal had 86% possession, 14 shots and nine corners.
- Bournemouth had no corners but missed a number of great chances to double their lead.
Arsenal v Bournemouth key moments – 2nd half
- Ben White replaced Tomiyasu who had a bit of a stinker in the first half
- Reiss Nelson replaced Emile Smith Rowe who is still returning to match fitness
- Arsenal had another two penalty calls denied in what must surely be some sort of record.
- Since the World Cup Arsenal have come from behind to win four times.
Arsenal vs Bournemouth match report
Arsenal secured a remarkable 3-2 comeback against Bournemouth in a thrilling Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners fell behind just nine seconds after kick-off when Philip Billing struck, and things went from bad to worse for the hosts when Marcos Senesi headed in a second for Bournemouth after the break.
However, Arsenal never gave up, and their persistence paid off when Thomas Partey tapped in a close-range finish to make it 2-1. Substitute Ben White then scored a stunning volley to level the game at 2-2 before fellow substitute Reiss Nelson sealed a remarkable win for the Gunners deep into stoppage time with a left-footed half-volley into the top-right corner.
The game started in unbelievable fashion as Bournemouth stunned Arsenal with a goal just nine seconds after kick-off. The Cherries worked the ball down the left, and Junior Stanislas squared for Billing to slot home past Aaron Ramsdale. The Gunners were shell-shocked, but they could have drawn level within three minutes when Martin Odegaard’s effort was saved by Bournemouth goalkeeper Marko Neto.
Bournemouth were defending heroically (and handbally) as Arsenal piled on the pressure, with Neto making a stunning double save to deny Odegaard and Bukayo Saka. The visitors nearly doubled their lead against the run of play when Dominic Solanke forced a save from Ramsdale, but Arsenal remained on top.
The Gunners were dealt another blow when Leandro Trossard went off injured after just 22 minutes, but they continued to dominate possession. However, they lacked the cutting edge to create clear-cut chances, and Bournemouth held on to their 1-0 lead until half-time.
Arsenal came out strongly in the second half, but Bournemouth extended their lead when Senesi rose highest to head home from a Joe Rothwell corner. The Gunners looked down and out, but they refused to give up, and Partey pulled one back when he tapped in from close range following a scramble in the box.
Arsenal’s pressure paid off again when White volleyed in from a Reiss Nelson cross to make it 2-2. The Emirates Stadium erupted, and Arsenal continued to press forward, sensing a dramatic winner. Nelson then completed the turnaround, scoring a stunning left-footed half-volley deep into stoppage time to secure an incredible 3-2 win for the Gunners.
The result was a huge boost for Arsenal, who had re-established a five-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table. They showed immense character to come from behind against a resolute Bournemouth side, and this win could prove to be a pivotal moment in the title race.
Going into this game
Arsenal were ranked second in goals scored per match with an average of 2.2 goals, and they hadn’t lost to AFC Bournemouth in their last six meetings (5 wins and 1 draw).
Bournemouth were ranked 15th in goals scored per match with an average of 0.9 goals and have conceded the most penalties this season with a total of six.