Bournemouth hit back to stun wasteful Arsenal
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Updated 14/01/2018 at 16:35 GMT
Premier League, Vitality Stadium - Bournemouth 2 (Wilson 70', Ibe 74') Arsenal 1 (Bellerin 52')
Jordon Ibe of AFC Bournemouth celebrates with team mates after scoring the second AFC Bournemouth goal during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal at Vitality Stadium.
Image credit: Eurosport
Bournemouth completed a miserable day for Arsenal after recovering from 1-0 behind to complete a 2-1 victory over the visitors at the Vitality Stadium.
Arsenal - without the dropped the Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez as speculation mounts he could be set for Manchester United, Manchester City or Liverpool this month - moved ahead on 52 minutes courtesy of an opener from Héctor Bellerín.
But the home team scored twice inside four minutes to take the three points with efforts from Callum Wilson (70') and Jordon Ibe (74') boosting their Premier League survival prospects.
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Bournemouth-Arsenal, Premier League 2017-2018
Image credit: Getty Images
Bournemouth withstood late Arsenal pressure to earn a vital three points that lifted them to 13th place in the table.
Arsenal's first loss to Bournemouth leaves themselves five points short of the top four with Liverpool having the chance to move eight clear if they can beat Manchester City at Anfield.
TALKING POINT: Arsenal's defence continues to struggle
If this is how life is going to look for Arsenal without Alexis and Mesut Ozil, the signs do not look promising. Where they missed? Who knows. Who knows when the lack of ability to defend a lead is a bigger issue. Arsenal were the better team and only know how they departed this match nursing such regret.
Certainly, there was a lack of spark, creativity and finishing power, but also in preventing goals as Arsenal slumped to defeat on the south coast in what was a fairly abject afternoon for Wenger's side.
Arsenal failed to kick on after taking the lead, and paid a heavy price with their defence again collapsing when victory seemed in sight. Wenger finished his touchline ban, but being stuck in the stand is clearly the least of his problems.
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Eddie Howe, Manager of AFC Bournemouth embraces Jack Wilshere of Arsenal after the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal at Vitality Stadium.
Image credit: Eurosport
MAN OF THE MATCH: Jack Wilshere
Former Bournemouth loanee Wilshere proved to be the highlight of the first half of a scrappy affair showing desire to win the ball and elegantly conducting Arsenal’s forward movements in the final third.
PLAYER RATINGS
Bournemouth Begovic 7, Francis, 7 Aké 7, Cook 8, L Cook 7, Gosling 7, Smith 8, Daniels 6, Wilson 7, Ibe 7, Fraser 7...subs: Pugh 6, Mousset 6, Afobe 6.
Arsenal Cech 5, Chambers 6, Mustafi 7, Holding 6, Bellerin 7, Wilshere 8, Xhaka 6, Maitland-Niles 7, Iwobi 5, Welbeck 5, Lacazette 6..subs: Ramsey 5, Walcott 6.
KEY MOMENTS
- 9 - CHANCE! Lacazette puts in a cross from the right and finds Maitland-Niles in space. He composes himself and hits the bar from about 10 yards out!
- 36 - CHANCE! Welbeck is gifted a one-on-one with Begovic via a lovely Lacazette pass, but the 'keeper blocks it. It falls to Lacazette, who can shoot into an empty net if he shoots with his first touch... but he doesn't and loses possession. That's a huge chance to break the deadlock.
- 52 - GOAL! It's a lovely passing movement as Iwobi puts Bellerin clear through on goal. His shot hits Begovic, but creeps apologetically over the line!
- 70 - GOAL! Bournemouth are level! Fraser delievers a bullet of a cross from the left and Calum WIlson tucks it away with his first touch! 7
- 74 - GOAL! Smith finds Wilson in the box with a cross and he's given plenty of space by for Jordon Ibe, who strikes low past Cech! It's his first goal for Bournemouth in 52 outings.
KEY STATS
- This is Bournemouth’s first ever victory against Arsenal. Previously, they lost five and drew one.
- Arsenal have only won three of their 12 away games this season.
- Bournemouth are unbeaten in their last four games.
- Bournemouth have recorded their first win against a side from the ‘big six’ in the Premier League since December 2016 (4-3 v Liverpool), ending a run of 14 winless games (D3 L11), including nine successive losses.
- Arsenal have picked up just 13 points after 12 Premier League away games (W3 D4 L5) – their worst record at this stage of a season since 2005-06 (12 points from 12 games).
- The Cherries have won their first ever game against Arsenal in all competitions (D1 L5).
- Arsenal have lost the last three Premier League games that Alexis Sanchez hasn't played any part in - 0-1 at Stoke, 1-2 at Watford and today against Bournemouth.
- At average age of 25 years and 56 days old, Arsene Wenger named his youngest Arsenal starting line-up in the Premier League since November 2012 v Aston Villa (25y 11d).
- The Frenchman also named five English starters in a Premier League game for just the third time since 2003.
- 13 English players started in the Bournemouth v Arsenal match, the most in a Premier League game involving Arsenal since January 2002 (Leeds v Arsenal, 14).
- Callum Wilson has scored three goals in three Premier League games against the Gunners, and also recorded his first ever Premier League assist when setting up Jordan Ibe for the winning goal.
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