U.S. DAILY SPORTS

Cherries finish ten-man Arsenal’s unbeaten begin to season

James Pier


Bournemouth recorded solely their second ever Premier League victory over the Gunners as Andoni Iraola’s facet ran out 2-0 winners towards ten-man Arsenal on the Vitality Stadium

The Cherries ended Arsenal’s unbeaten begin to the season courtesy of second-half objectives from substitutes Ryan Christie and Justin Kluivert after William Saliba had been despatched off earlier than the break.

Saliba’s dismissal mid-way by means of the primary half modified the complexion of the sport solely, however Bournemouth made the many of the numerical benefit as Iraola emerged victorious within the battle of the Basque Nation managers.

Mikel Arteta was with out Bukayo Saka for the conflict on the south coast after struggling an damage on worldwide responsibility, whereas summer time signing Mikel Merino made his first begin for the Gunners.

Regardless of Saka’s absence, Arsenal have been nonetheless agency favourites going into the tie, with the final time Bournemouth taking factors in a league recreation with their north London opponents coming throughout Arteta’s first recreation in cost.

The opening 20 minutes, nevertheless, was largely uneventful: a contest between two groups with related taking part in kinds that yielded only a few possibilities.

However on 27 minutes got here the turning level within the match, as Saliba was proven a straight purple card for a pull again on Evanilson.

Saliba had initially been cautioned for tugging Evanilson again because the Brazilian appeared set to race clear after latching on to Leandro Trossard’s wayward move, however the choice was modified to purple following a VAR evaluation.

It meant that for the third time this season, Arsenal have been pressured to play a good portion of the sport a person down.

The dismissal appeared to spark the group to life because the noise ranges contained in the Vitality Stadium started to develop.

Bournemouth all of the sudden noticed a chance for an upset. Antoine Semenyo stung the palms of David Raya within the Arsenal purpose earlier than Raheem Sterling made approach, changed by Jakub Kiwior as Arteta appeared to positive up his defence.

Semenyo was changing into an rising menace to Arsenal down Bournemouth’s left-hand facet. 5 minutes earlier than half-time, he beat Kiwior for tempo earlier than sending a pushed cross into the Gunners field that Raya failed to carry.

Nevertheless, the Spanish keeper rapidly atoned for his error by saving properly from Marcus Tavernier’s follow-up shot.

Thomas Partey then smashed a volley excessive over the bar after a uncommon enterprise ahead from the guests.

The second half continued in a lot the identical vein, with the hosts utilizing their numerical benefit to dominate possession.

Kai Havertz, whose first purpose in an Arsenal shirt got here on this fixture final season, labored tirelessly up entrance, feeding largely on scraps for almost all of the sport.

It was Bournemouth, nevertheless, who appeared almost definitely to interrupt the impasse, with Iraola making a triple change simply after the hour mark in a bid to unpick the lock in customer’s defence.

In a uncommon probability for the Arsneal, substitute Gabriel Martinelli had a fantastic alternative to attain when he was performed by means of however his tame shot was properly saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Two minutes later, it was two of the host’s subs – Justin Kluivert and Ryan Christie – who mixed as Bournemouth ultimately opened the scoring.

A left-wing nook plucked straight from the coaching floor was curled low in direction of the close to submit.

Kluivert flicked the ball neatly into the house close to the penalty spot the place Christie arrived late, opened his physique and side-footed a first-time effort excessive into the web.

Issues then went from unhealthy to worse for the Gunners when an under-hit move again by Kiwior was pounced on by Evanilson who rounded Raya however was subsequently introduced down by the Arsenal keeper.

Referee Rob Jones instantly pointed to the spot and Kluivert duly dispatched the penalty, coolly sending Raya the mistaken approach to double Bournemouth’s lead.

And it proved sufficient for the hosts, who noticed out the rest of the sport to file a well-known victory.



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