Arsenal harbors ambitions of being Europe`s elite. However, maintaining their current domestic league performance could see them finish third or lower in a competition widely expected to be a two-horse title race for English dominance.
Similar to their 2-2 home draw against Brentford between the Champions League quarter-final legs versus Real Madrid, Arsenal struggled to convert their first-half dominance into goals. The Gunners will need this pattern to be a strange good luck charm as they head to Paris on Wednesday, aiming to overturn a one-goal deficit against PSG in the semi-final.
Declan Rice initially gave the home side the lead with a well-executed goal, but Arsenal failed to extend their advantage. Bournemouth then capitalized, netting two rapid goals from set pieces to secure a valuable victory and enhance their prospects for European qualification next season.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will likely find it frustrating that his team was defeated by two set pieces: Dean Huijsen`s header from an Antoine Semenyo long throw for the equalizer, and Evanilson`s winner following a corner. Some Arsenal fans might point out that VAR Michael Salisbury found no grounds to disallow Bournemouth`s winning goal after a lengthy review. However, the stark reality is that Arsenal did not play well enough to earn a win.
Even before Liverpool clinched the Premier League title last weekend, Arsenal`s league matches had started to feel like mere formalities – something to simply get through rather than savor. For some time now, the focus for Arsenal`s season has squarely been on the Champions League. This context made Mikel Arteta`s team selection for this match somewhat unexpected.
Notably, on the same day, PSG made ten changes to their starting lineup from the first leg against Arsenal for their match against Strasbourg and also lost 2-1. In contrast, Arteta opted for his strongest possible team, with Thomas Partey returning from suspension and only one other change due to caution regarding Jurrien Timber. Despite this, Arsenal experienced the same unfavorable outcome.
A new banner in the Clock End urged the team, “Believe and take us to Munich,” referencing the Champions League final venue. England manager Thomas Tuchel, a resident of Munich, was among the spectators. In the initial phase of the match, one might have questioned, as Tuchel perhaps did, the purpose of his attendance, as very little action occurred in the first 15 minutes.
Subsequently, Rice had three scoring opportunities in rapid succession. His first two attempts went wide, and a third chance, a potential header from Ben White`s cross, was thwarted by Illia Zabarnyi`s alert defending. The visiting fans taunted him with the chant, “You’re just a s**t Harry Arter.” These same fans had reason to celebrate in the 26th minute when left-back Milos Kerkez delivered a fine cross, and Evanilson managed to get free from Jakub Kiwior. However, the Brazilian striker, who was playing after his controversial red card against Manchester United was overturned, headed the ball wastefully over the crossbar.
Prompted by this missed chance, Arsenal should have scored shortly after. However, Gabriel Martinelli sent his shot wide after being set up by Bukayo Saka. Martinelli then created an opportunity for Leandro Trossard, whose header was well saved by Kepa. But Rice eventually found the net. Martin Odegaard broke through and delivered a perfectly weighted pass into Rice`s intelligent run. Rice remained composed, rounded Kepa, and finished the ball into the net, even with Zabarnyi attempting to block.
Despite a generally underwhelming performance, Bournemouth posed two threats towards the end of the first half. Justin Kluivert`s shot was deflected over by William Saliba, and then Evanilson lifted the ball too high, missing a clear chance after Arsenal conceded possession 30 yards from goal. The second half began with more energy from both sides compared to the first. Saka maneuvered into the box but sent a shot wide with his weaker right foot. Arsenal desperately needed a second goal for security, but it never materialized. Besides one cross from Dango Ouattara, Bournemouth did not seem likely to equalize.
