Report: Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth

We let a one-goal lead slip at home to Bournemouth to fall to a disappointing defeat in the Premier League.

Declan Rice marked his 100th Gunners appearance with a well-taken goal to give us the lead in the first-half, rounding the keeper after Martin Odegaard’s throughball.

But the visitors levelled midway through the second-half when Dean Huijsen headed in from a long throw.

And the Cherries won it with another set piece when Evanilson bundled the ball over the line from a corner.

Half chances

After a fairly pedestrian opening ten minutes, we sliced through the Bournemouth defence with a wonderful move that resulted in our first sight of goal. Martin Odegaard threaded a pass to Gabriel Martinelli, who played a first-time pass into the path of Rice. The midfielder took the shot on early, but dragged his effort just wide.

Moments later Rice couldn’t steer Martinelli’s cutback on target, but this was a much harder chance.

We had sparked into life now though. Quick feet from Bukayo Saka in the box found Ben White, and his stood up cross was bound for Rice until Illia Zabarnyi cleared the danger from under his own cross bar.

But after those half-chances, there was a let off at the other end when Evanilson found himself alone in the area, but could only head Milos Kerkez’s devilish cross over the bar from close range.

Rice marks his ton

We got back on the front foot. Martinelli shot low and wide from the edge of the area from Saka’s lay off and Leandro Trossard so nearly broke the deadlock with a great header. Martinelli again got to the byline, his cross was just behind the Belgian but he twisted to get his header low and on target, but Kepa was equal to it, making the stop on his goalline.

William Saliba made an inch-perfect sliding tackle to deny Evanilson in the area but moments later we took the lead.

And what a well-crafted goal it was. Odegaard – pulling the strings in midfield – played the throughball to Rice, who had made an excellent run into area. He took it round Kepa, and smashed home like a striker for his eighth of the season. It’s the most prolific campaign of his career to date.

Justin Kluivert had a shot deflected over on the counter attack, and Evanilson lifted his lob just over after David Raya’s passing radar was slightly off as the visitors finished the half strongly.

Huijsen heads home

Trossard was dispossessed in the penalty area early in the second half after a driving Odegaard run and Saka had a shot charged down before heading at the keeper moments later.

Saka was looking lively. He found himself in the inside right channel latching onto Myles Lewis-Skelly’s pass, chopped onto his right foot and curled his effort just wide.

Despite us racking up the chances, we couldn’t make them count, and Bournemouth always retained a threat on the counter.

Dango Outtara outstripped Ben White on the flank, but Raya read the danger well to collect his low cross.

Substitute Antoine Semenyo was next to race away on the counter. Saliba made an excellent covering tackle, but from the resulting throw, the visitors levelled. Semenyo hurled the throw in to the box, and Huijsen rose highest to steer his header past Raya.

Evanilson wins it

The visitors had the momentum now, and took the lead from another set piece. A corner was swung in and flicked on by Marcus Tavernier. Evanilson stole in at the far post and bundled the ball over the line. The goal was awarded after a VAR check for a potential handball against the Brazilian.

Mikel Arteta sent on a host of late subs as we went searching for the equaliser, but Bournemouth held on to inflict our fourth league defeat of the season.

What’s next

We’re off to France for the second leg of our Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain. The tie is delicately poised, with PSG 1-0 up from the first game last week. We take on the French champions in the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night. Our next Premier League action is away to Liverpool on Sunday.