Arsenal lost 2-1 at home to Bournemouth in the Premier League title race yesterday, which was a huge shock. This gave Manchester City new hope of catching the long-time leaders.
Junior Kroupi gave the visitors the lead at a tense Emirates, but Mikel Arteta’s team tied the game with a penalty from Viktor Gyokeres later in the first half, according to AFP.
The Gunners made a lot of forward changes early in the second half, but Andoni Iraola’s team was too good for them to get clear chances.
Bournemouth took the lead again in the 74th minute after a beautiful play that ended with Alex Scott firing the ball past David Raya.
Arsenal tried to tie the game, but they lost at home for the second time this season.
The Gunners are nine points ahead of second-placed City with six games left. They are trying to win their first Premier League title since 2004.
But if Pep Guardiola’s team beats Chelsea on Sunday and then beats the leaders in a game at the Etihad next week, they will be only three points behind the top team.
Arsenal headed into the game feeling good after their last-minute 1-0 triumph over Sporting Lisbon in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday.
But they lost their third straight home game in all competitions, which made people very unsure of their capacity to stay in the Premier League title chase.
Arsenal worked hard
In the 17th minute, Iraola’s team seized the lead when Kroupi tapped in from close range after the ball fell to him after a nasty looping deflection from William Saliba.
Moments later, Kai Havertz missed a clear chance to tie the game by heading the ball over the bar. The audience grew more and more anxious as the slow-moving home team tried to get settled.
But Arsenal tied the game in the 35th minute when Gyokeres scored from the penalty spot after Ryan Christie’s hand hit the ball.
Arteta, who has been criticized for being too careful this season, made three attacking substitutions early in the second half. He brought on Eberechi Eze, 16-year-old Max Dowman, and Leandro Trossard to replace Havertz, Noni Madueke, and Gabriel Martinelli.
But the substitutions didn’t get Arsenal going, as Bournemouth scored the second goal that sealed the game.
Evanilson redirected David Brooks’ pass to Scott, who finished with confidence.
Arsenal tried hard but couldn’t find a good answer, and Gyokeres shot wide deep into extra time.
The home team only had three shots on goal the whole game.
Arsenal was on course to win a rare quadruple just a few weeks ago, but they lost to City in the League Cup final and then lost to Southampton in the FA Cup.
They are still the favorites to win the Premier League, but City will go to Stamford Bridge with new hope, since they have two games left to play.
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