After seven Premier League games without defeat, Arsenal FC leave the pitch in Bournemouth as losers for the first time this season. The Gunners made life difficult for themselves with their own mistakes and played 60 minutes down on numbers.
Arsenal made four changes from the side that beat Southampton 3-1, with Saka, for example, returning from the international break injured. The favorites from London initially had problems combining into the attacking third against the Cherries, who were tactically clever and sometimes courageously pushing high up the pitch.
In a first half-hour poor in highlights, Arsenal only managed to get one shot on target – the same number as Bournemouth, who did not punish Raya’s mistake in the build-up play from a distance (16th minute).
Then things got tougher for the Gunners: Saliba made an emergency stop against the fast-starting Evanilson, for which he initially saw yellow, but after a VAR reference, justifiably saw a straight red from referee Robert Jones. Arsenal were now playing 60 minutes with ten men and retreated accordingly until half-time. Aside from Semenyos shot on the short corner (36th) and another uncertainty from Raya, before he saved against Tavernier (41st), not much happened.
Just after the restart, Bournemouth had a great chance to take the lead through Semenyo, who shot over the bar while free in the box (47). After that, the action took place largely in midfield – not without further wobbles from Raya, but these were without consequence.
Double strike within ten minutes
It was not until the 69th minute that there was something on offer again: substitute Gabriel Martinelli was stopped by Kepa, but the scores were level again on the opposite side. The Cherries used an impressive corner option to free Christie on the edge of the box, and the 29-year-old hammered the ball into the top left corner (70′).
Semenyo then went close with another effort from close range (76) before the home side made the decision. And this time they took advantage of another mistake in the Gunners’ back line: Kiwior played a poor back pass to his keeper, which Evanilson intercepted. He fell while trying to pass Raya: penalty. Kluivert made no mistake from the spot to make it 2-0 (79′).
First defeat of the season for Arsenal
Not much happened after that, and Arsenal were unable to avert their first competitive defeat of the 2024/25 season. At the same time, the Gunners missed the opportunity to put pressure on Liverpool and Manchester City, who are not in action until Sunday. The Cherries, on the other hand, celebrated their third win in eight Premier League games.
Arsenal now have to get back on track in the Champions League, with the Londoners hosting FC Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday (9 p.m.). In the league, they will then face Liverpool FC in the top match (October 27, 5:30 p.m.). Bournemouth will be at Aston Villa next Saturday (4 p.m.).
