Match Report – Player Ratings– Post-Match Press Conference
Final Result: Bournemouth 2-0 Arsenal (Christie 69′, Kluivert 78′)
Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Partey, Merino (Nwaneri 81′); Sterling (Kiwior 37′, Jesus 81′), Trossard (Martinelli 64′), Havertz
Arsenal went into the match against Bournemouth with several injury concerns, but Mikel Arteta still put up a squad that locked horns with their Vitality Stadium hosts from the South coast.
First Half Analysis
Arsenal’s talisman, Bukayo Saka, was not deemed fit enough to play against Bournemouth, which offered Raheem Sterling a chance from the right wing from the onset. Ben White was fit enough to start and Mikel Merino made his Premier League full debut in midfield alongside Declan Rice and Thomas Partey. Kai Havertz led the line while Leandro Trossard drifted in from the left.
The first and major noteworthy highlight of the half arrived in the 28th minute when Trossard’s inexplicable careless pass caught William Saliba out of position, which allowed Evanilson to anticipate the ball and bear down on goal. With Saliba’s lack of agility to catch up with the Brazilian forward, he scythed him down and earned a yellow card from the ref. However, there was a VAR check and the yellow was changed to red.
Arsenal’s third red card in just eight Premier League games. Yikes.
Bournemouth took advantage of the numerical advantage with attempts from Antoine Semenyo and Marcus Tavernier but David Raya was on hand to make smart stops. Arsenal had a rare chance when Sterling took on Milos Kerkez and drilled a cut back that was anticipated by Mikel Merino, but his shot went wide off the mark.
Second Half Analysis
Bournemouth continued the onslaught in the second half with Semenyo drifting undetected in the danger area, smashing Dango Ouattara’s shot over the bar. The warning bells were there for Arsenal, but they failed to heed.
However, Arsenal had a glorious chance to take the lead which Kepa Arrizabalaga made an error in building from the back. After the turnover, the ball was fed on a plate to Gabriel Martinelli with a gaping goal in sight but the winger fired his shot straight at Kepa and a good chance went begging. In the very same minute, Bournemouth had a corner, executed a training routine and scored with a well-taken goal from Ryan Christie. The cruelty of the beautiful game.
As Arsenal went for broke, things went from bad to worse when Jakub Kiwior’s terrible back pass was anticipated by Evanilson, that was brought down by Raya as he bore down on goal. Kluivert stepped up and sent Raya the wrong way to make it two.
