Arsenal vs Bournemouth, summary: Nelson goal, score, goals & highlights | Premier League 22/23
Arsenal vs Bournemouth: as it happened
Signing off...
That's all from me today, folks!
Time to go and have a nice lie down in a dark room somewhere. Until later on, at least, because we've got even more football!
SATURDAY
LAFC vs Portland Timbers 4:30 PM ET.
SUNDAY
Barcelona vs Valencia 10:15 a.m. ET
Liverpool vs Man Utd 11:30 a.m. ET
Real Betis vs Real Madrid 2:00 p.m. ET
Thanks for following along!
Joe
That's some domination from Arteta's side
I think, on balance, they probably deserved to win (but it was a lot more fun that they nearly didn't and had to wait until the 97th minute).
And at the bottom:
It's as you were, really, with all the sides towards the bottom losing.
Leeds lost 1-0 to Chelsea, while West Ham were beaten 4-0 by Brighton.
| T | MP | W | D | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 23 | 25 | 6 | 5 | 14 |
| 17 | 22 | 25 | 5 | 7 | 13 |
| 18 | 21 | 25 | 5 | 6 | 14 |
| 19 | 21 | 25 | 5 | 6 | 14 |
| 20 | 18 | 24 | 5 | 3 | 16 |
Here's how the table looks:
Arsenal maintain their 5 point lead over City with that win, and they'll take a huge morale boost from it as well.
| T | MP | W | D | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 63 | 26 | 20 | 3 | 3 |
| 2 | 58 | 26 | 18 | 4 | 4 |
| 3 | 49 | 24 | 15 | 4 | 5 |
| 4 | 45 | 26 | 14 | 3 | 9 |
| 5 | 41 | 24 | 10 | 11 | 3 |
Full-time report:
What do I say?
Behind with the first attack, winning with the last. What an absolutely mad game of football.
The second-fastest goal in the history of the league set Bournemouth up to have the perfect night. It got even more unbelievable when they scored a second, Senesi heading in from a corner after half-time.
Arsenal, who had struggled to create anything worthwhile in the first half, set up against 5 banks of 500 defenders: they needed a spark.
Thomas Partey got them going with a tap in from a ball over the top before Ben White smacked the second into the back of the net from the same position.
Then, in the final second, with everyone's stopwatches running out of seconds to count, Nelson hit a ferocious winner past Neto that gave the home side all three points!
AND THAT'S ALL
ARSENAL 3-2 BOURNEMOUTH
The corner came in and found Nelson on the edge of the box. He let the ball bounce, set himself up and swung a left boot at the ball that fired into the top right corner!
NELSON SCORES A SCREAMER!!!!!!!!
NINETY SEVEN MINUTES
We're over the 6 minutes now...
CHANCE!
Ødegaard's shot is thundered at Billing's chest and cleared away.
CHANCE!
Nelson wiggles his way into finding some space on the edge of the box before hitting a shot towards the far post. Neto saves.
CHANCE!
Saka gets in behind again but his cross is cleared!
Arteta rubs his chin and takes a look at the clock: two to go...
Arsenal are pushing; Bournemouth continue to stand firm.
6 added minutes.
Zinchenko wastes a good chance to carve out an opportunity to score after he takes too many touches on the edge of the box, allowing Bournemouth to defend.
Arsenal attack. Into the last minute.
Bournemouth can't decide who is to take their free-kick, which angers the fans in the stands greatly.
Ødegaard has a shot from distance but, like many of his efforts today, it flies into the stands.
Saka wins a corner after his shot is deflected out of play.
Yep. Mepham booked. He can have no complaints.
Ouch. Martinelli goes down after a huge tackle from Mepham.
Groans from the crowd after Martinelli hits a wild pass to Zinchenko that he can't control and Bournemouth will take all the time they need to get play back underway.
SAKA CHANCE!
Nelson (who has been excellent on the left) fired in a low cross and Saka met the ball on the penalty spot, but he couldn't make contact with his left foot and the shot spun out of play.
Ødegaard squirms like a jellyfish in a jar to make room inside the box. He pops the ball to White whose cross is poor and collected by Neto.
Ouattara OFF
Christie ON
Play continues...
NOT GIVEN!
It definitely hit Billing on the hand after Gabriel headed the ball from the corner.
MORE SHOUTS FOR HANDBALL!
AGAIN, NOT GIVEN!
Not given!
Corner to Arsenal
Huge shouts for handball after Ødegaard's shot is deflected out for a corner.
Fabio Vieira gets the ball on the edge of the box but his shot is high and wide.
Just over ten minutes to go, and Arsenal are searching for goal number three.
Arsenal win a corner after nice work from Martinelli, again on the right side.
21 shots for Arsenal, 4 four Bournemouth so far.
CHANCE
MARTINELLI FIRES OVER
The Brazilian got in behind down the right and hit a shot that fizzed just over the bar.
Bournemouth currently have every single player except Solanke inside the box.
Saka gets in behind and hits a cross that he and the crowd think hit a Bournemouth player on the hand.
Arsenal attack with the crowd pushing them on...
Rothwell OFF
Cook ON
Nelson hit a fearsome cross from the left that Ben White met with all his might and smacked a shot to Neto. The goalkeeper saved the effort but the referee's watch says the ball went over the line!
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
BEN WHITE GETS THE EQUALISER FOR ARSENAL
Twenty minutes to go...
Smith Rowe OFF
Nelson ON
Arsenal are pushing again, this time with the crowd fully behind them; frustration has turned into hope inside the Emirates Stadium.
RAMSDALE SAVES!
IT'S ALMOST THREE FOR BOURNEMOUTH
A searching ball over the top of the Arsenal defence met Solanke who took the ball down on his chest before hitting a spinning shot from a tight angle.
Ramsdale did brilliantly to get down to the ball.
Zemura OFF
Fredericks ON
The corner comes in and Smith-Rowe sends a looping header back towards the front post where Partey is waiting to smash the ball past Neto.
CHANCE!
Stephens skews a clearance that almost spins into his own net.
Half an hour to go and the Emirates crowd is getting increasingly frustrated with a) the repetition of the Arsenal attacks and b) the time wasting from the away side.
Vieira swings a wild leg at the air as the ball is fizzed in from the left. Arsenal can't create a chance here...
We're back underway and Arsenal are back to pushing Bournemouth in their box.
What a game!
The corner is whipped in and Senesi makes a darting run to the front post to head past Ramsdale!
BOURNEMOUTH GO CLOSE!
A free-kick is whipped in dangerously from the right and Partey gets a dangling leg on the ball that bounces perilously in front of goal and out for a corner.
NETO SAVES BOURNEMOUTH
Martinelli was away in behind the defence but the goalkeeper came surging out to snatch the ball from the forward and prevent a certain goal.
CHANCE
Martinelli bends a shot over the bar from inside the box. Neto looked to have it covered.
The Bournemouth players are writing their names off the Emirates Christmas card list as they begin to, let's say, take advantage of every second on the clock.
NETO SAVES
Ødegaard hit a low shot from the left but the goalkeeper got down well to collect.
Neto catches another cross, this time from Ben White. It's a frustrating repetition of events for Arsenal, who are being forced out wide every time by the away side.
Ødegaard, again in space, hits a cross from the right. This time it flies over everyone and out for a corner.
The quick rotations from the Arsenal forwards almost pay off, as Ødegaard hits a cross that's cleared out for a corner. The Norwegian turns to the crowd and asks for a response from the stands.
Partey cuts out a counter from Bournemouth. The Emirates Stadium squeals.
And the second half starts the way the first half ended, with Arsenal mounting pressure on the away side.
And we're back underway...
Arsenal make a change:
Tomiyasu OFF
White ON
Billing's been on the ball today...
Literally and figuratively. He's been behind everything the side have done well, from defending in the box to driving counter attacks to creating chances for his team. An excellent showing.
Half time report:
Well, what a first minute that was. Billing put the visitors up in the first 11 seconds and from then on, Arsenal began their seige.
They have huffed and puffed but the Bournemouth fortress is made of especially strong materials today, as Arsenal can't find a way through.
In fact, the best chance of the game - apart from the goal - came for Gary O'Neil's side, when Billing almost got on the end of a cross that would have really put the cat amongst the pigeons at the Emirates.
Arsenal, for their part, haven't carved out anything you'd say was a huge chance; a few dangerous Saka crosses have probably been the scariest moments for the away fans to watch so far.
Let's see what happens in the second half!
HT: Arsenal 0-1 Bournemouth
Corner for Arsenal with 15 seconds to go...
Into the last minute of the half.
It's Ødegaard who shoots, but it's weak, high and wide. Three bad ingredients for a goal.
Partey is also over the ball
Arsenal have a free-kick now on the edge of the box, just to the right.
A perfect position Ødegaard, you might say...
3 added minutes.
Tomiyasu goes down in the box and the stadium erupts. The referee waves on.
Bournemouth counter with Solanke down the left and the side almost create the same situation again, with Semenyo on his own and almost reaching the cross. Arsenal look incredibly vulnerable down that side.
Saka gets another cross in. Cleared again.
Bournemouth clear a scramble in the box, with Neto getting on the end of the bouncing ball after a long-range shot from Smith-Rowe deflected up like a pinball.
Tomiyasu gets in behind but hilariously spoons a cross that dribbles out before reaching the first defender. A real brain fart.
Saka's cross is excellent and slides on the ground all the way to the left channel where Smith-Rowe is waiting to shoot. It's Zemura again who jumps in to stop the danger.
Zinchenko and Ødegaard both try long-range shotsbut the Bournemouth fortress holds...
Solanke gets away behind the Arsenal defence (he looked offside to me).
Saliba does well to steal the ball from him before he has a chance to shoot.
Arsenal immediately go on the counter and win a corner.
Zemura with a fantastic tackle to stop Arsenal as they launch a dangerous-looking attack.
NOT GIVEN.
Play continues...
Shouts for handball as Mepham's arm was raised as he challenged for the ball...
It's taken short from Saka to Ødegaard who floats a near post cross to Martinelli for the flick-on, but it hits him square on the forehead and flies out of play.
Ødegaard links up with Saka and wins a corner for The Gunners...
Chance for Arsenal - Tomiyasu with a weak header from Zinchenko's cross.
They're pushing, but are so far unable to create anything you'd call a huge chance - they've definitely gone Bournemouth's way, as they should be 0-2 up.
Ødegaard tries a shot from the edge of the box but it smacks off the back of Mepham.
Fábio Vieira makes a mazy, Messi-like run through an army of black shirted players and almost reaches Neto in the Bournemouth goal before it's cleared away from his feet. That would have been incredible.
Tomiyasu plays in a lovely cross from the right and Emile Smith-Rowe nearly sneaks in behind everyone to get his blonde head on it.
Bournemouth have a player down now. Senesi, it looks like...
JUST WIDE FROM ØDEGAARD
It was curled with his left foot just wide of Neto's left post.
Arsenal have a free-kick in a central space about 35 metres out...
Trossard OFF
Smith-Rowe ON
The Belgian can't continue.
There's a break in play as Trossard is down...
Bournemouth countered down the left and all the Arsenal players scrambled to get the ball back, leaving two players free inside the box.
The ball is played square to Solanke but Ramsdale becomes a real-life giant and stops the away side from doubling the score!
HUGE SAVE FROM RAMSDALE
THAT WAS 0-2
CHANCE!
The corner goes to the near post and is flicked up awkwardly, almost spinning its way into the goal.
CHANCE
Saka gets in behind on the right after a slip from an opposition defender... corner.
Saliba gets on the end of Ødegaard's free-kick but the away side clear well and the danger is averted...
Arsenal win a free kick in a dangerous area on the left: Mepham fouled Trossard.
Saka does well down the right and fires a cross across the box but it's too high and fast for anyone to make contact.
Fifteen minutes in and Arsenal continue to keep Bournemouth squished inside their own half, crushing them like a huge garlic clove.
Fábio Vieira makes a nice run between the centre-backs and takes the ball down well, but the defenders snap into action and cover the danger, allowing Neto to arrive and collect the ball.
Partey fouls Billing as the goal scorer makes a run away on the counterattack. He's still limping.
Arteta looks furious on the sideline as his team continue to push. That really was the nightmare start for his sleepy team.
Bournemouth survive after a million passes are conducted at light speed on the edge of the box. Mepham steps in to save the day and clear the danger.
Ødegaard, Martinelli, Zinchenko and Saka are all firing passes in and around the Bournemouth box, looking for a way in.
93% possession for Arsenal so far.
Bourneouth have gone into an ultra-low block as Arsenal lay siege to their defence...
CHANCE
Ødegaard again!
Arsenal play the ball around the box, which they have been doing since the goal, and the Norweigian finds enough space to get a shot away that is nicely caught by Neto.
HUGE SAVE FROM NETO
ØDEGAARD GOES CLOSE FROM RANGE
My oh my, what a start!
We're back underway with Arsenal pushing...
Straight from kick off Bournemouth play the ball to the right and the cross comes in, Saliba misses it, and Billing is on his own to tap past Ramsdale!
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL
BOURNEMOUTH
HOW MANY SECONDS WAS THAT?!?!
Bournemouth kick us off from right to left!
The Emirates Stadium is bouncing already!
Ramsdale arrives late to the Arsenal huddle, just as Zinchenko is giving his speech...
And they're on the pitch!
The players are in the tunnel ready to go!
Here are the lineups once again:
Arsenal:
Ramsdale
Tomiyasu - Saliba - Gabriel - Zinchenko
Partey - Vieira - Ødegaard
Saka - Trossard - Martinelli
Bournemouth:
Neto
Smith - Mepham -Stephens - Senesi - Zemura
Ouattara - Rothwell - Billing - Semenyo
Solanke
Fifteen minutes to go!
The players are finishing their warmups on the luscious Emirates pitch and are getting ready to go into the dressing rooms for the final team talks!
I know you want to stick with me here, but this is the link if you want to find out how to watch Arsenal vs Bournemouth on the television, like a modern youth who listens to digital music.
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Arsenal or Bournemouth - who've you got?
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FT: Manchester City 2-0 Newcastle
OK, the Manchester City result is confirmed: they have just beaten Eddie Howe's side and are now just 2 points behind The Gunners.
It's over to you, Arteta.
| T | MP | W | D | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 60 | 25 | 19 | 3 | 3 |
| 2 | 58 | 26 | 18 | 4 | 4 |
| 3 | 49 | 24 | 15 | 4 | 5 |
| 4 | 45 | 25 | 14 | 3 | 8 |
| 5 | 41 | 24 | 10 | 11 | 3 |
Pre-match stats (sorry, Bournemouth):
- Bournemouth have never won away to Arsenal in all five attempts
- The Cherries haven't won consecutive Premier League away games since October 2018.
- Arsenal have won all of their last eight matches against newly-promoted clubs.
- Martin Odegaard has been involved in seven goals in his last six Premier League games against promoted sides and Bukayo Saka has been involved in seven goals in his last six Premier League appearances against newly promoted teams.
- Only three teams have taken 60 points or more from their first 25 Premier League matches of the season and failed to win the title - Liverpool in 2018-19, Arsenal in 2007-08 and Newcastle back in 1995-96.
- Gary O'Neil's side have conceded a league-high 32 goals away from home this season.
Are you ready for the most amazing stat of the whole season?
Told you.
Xhaka's absence in the XI means that none of the players in the lineup ever played under Arsene Wenger - the first time that's happened since 1986!
Andrew Yates / EFE
And the answer is...
Mikel Arteta's first game in charge of Arsenal was a 1-1 draw away at Bournemouth!
PAUL ELLIS / AFP
A quick update:
Manchester City have gone 2-0 up against Newcastle, thanks to a goal from Bernardo Silva.
This piles the pressure on Arsenal, as their lead is now just 2 points...
Arsenal starting XI:
3 changes from the side that beat Everton: Tomiyasu, Vieira and Partey come in.
Pub quiz time!
OK, the others have been nice and easy, but this one's tough:
***
Mikel Arteta's first game as manager of Arsenal was on 26 December 2019, and it ended in a 1-1 draw - but who was it against?
***
You have 15 minutes and make sure to send you answers to me on Twitter @English_AS or @j4brennan.
Ten minutes until the team news...
A lovely shirt today...
Arsenal are in their delightful home kit, and now we know that Bournemouth will be playing in this very slick third kit.
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Bournemouth fans! I have news...
The good news is that Arsenal played just three days ago, so there's good chance that legs will get tired in the latter stages of the game.
The bad news? They thumped Everton 4-0. Check out how things unfolded by clicking the link above.
Gary O'Neil pre-match:
“Everyone around us will already have it down as Arsenal three points and Bournemouth zero. But we go there to win a game of football and cause them problems. If we can spin that and cause a shock, it adds to our points - but also does damage to those around us."
“It is the toughest place to go and the biggest test you can face. It is no surprise they are where they are, so we will try to be organised, stick to our plan and use ways that we hope can hurt them."
Mikel Arteta pre-match:
“I’m really impressed by what Bournemouth are doing. They are really aggressive, they haven’t conceded many in those [previous four] games and they could have had different results in two of those.
Against Man City, [City] showed some quality when they opened up, when finishing the actions to make the score really big, but it was a really competitive match again."
“I’ve known [O’Neil] for many years because we’ve been in the league together, and I’ve been really impressed with what he’s done throughout his career and the way he approaches every game, the way he sets the team and what the team is doing right now."
How things look at the top of the Premier League table:
Things look incredibly good for Arsenal (60pts) after 25 games: they are 5 points clear of Manchester City (55pts).
Their game against Everton last week looked like having all the hallmarks of typically difficult Sean Dyche-inspired battle, but The Gunners pushed through the defence and Everton simply crumbled into a pile of dust at their feet.
As we speak, Manchester City are beating Newcastle, which means Arsenal would need a win to stay 5 clear. I'll keep you in the loop with that on at the Etihad Stadium.
| T | MP | W | D | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 60 | 25 | 19 | 3 | 3 |
| 2 | 58 | 26 | 18 | 4 | 4 |
| 3 | 49 | 24 | 15 | 4 | 5 |
| 4 | 45 | 25 | 14 | 3 | 8 |
| 5 | 41 | 24 | 10 | 11 | 3 |
How things look for Bournemouth:
The Cherries have just one win in 10 games (against Wolves) and sit 19th in the league, 3 points from the bottom yet just two points from safety.
A win today would see them leap out of the relegation zone, pushing both Everton (21pts) and Leeds (22pts) back in.
A draw for the away side wouldn’t be the most helpful of results in terms of points as their goal difference is way below that of Everton and Leeds. However, a point at the Emirates Stadium would undoubtedly be something of a morale boost for the team.
| T | MP | W | D | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 23 | 24 | 6 | 5 | 13 |
| 17 | 22 | 24 | 5 | 7 | 12 |
| 18 | 21 | 25 | 5 | 6 | 14 |
| 19 | 21 | 24 | 5 | 6 | 13 |
| 20 | 18 | 24 | 5 | 3 | 16 |
Bournemouth team news:
Eek. It’s quite a long list coming up here: Marcus Tavernier is out with a hamstring injury, as are Zabarnyi (ankle) and Vina (knee).
Junior Stanislas missed the Manchester City game, and David Brooks still isn’t available, along with Lloyd Kelly. I think that’s everyone covered.
But wait! Some good news! Lewis Cook is back!
This is not sarcasm, I love Lewis Cook.
Arsenal team news:
The good news is that Mikel Arteta has said Jorginho should be OK to play after suffering from illness during the week; Nketiah also should be in line for contention after coming off early against Everton.
Gabriel Jesus and Mohamed Elneny are the long-term absentees.
Welcome!
Hello, hello and welcome again to the AS USA live coverage of this weekend’s football, and what a fixture we’ve got for your eyes today.
It’s top versus nearly-bottomin the Premier League: Arsenal vs Bournemouth!
It's Joe here, and I’ll be here to guide you through all the ups and downs in what will surely be crucial points for both teams whatever way they go.