ARSENAL dream of being No 1 in Europe.
But if they keep up this league form they could end up finishing third or even worse in what was supposed to be a two-horse race to be kings of England.
Just as in the 2-2 home draw against Brentford between the two legs of the Champions League quarter final against Real Madrid, Arsenal failed to turn their first-half superiority into goals.
And the Gunners will have to hope it is some kind of perverse omen for when they go to Paris on Wednesday trying to overcome a one-goal semi-final deficit against PSG.
Declan Rice put the home side ahead with a well-worked effort, but the Gunners could not find a second.
And Bournemouth took the opportunity to boost their own hopes of playing in Uefa competition next season by scoring two quickfire goals to seal a precious victory.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will not appreciate the irony of his team being undone by two set-pieces, with Dean Huijsen heading the equaliser direct from an Antoine Semenyo long throw and Evanilson credited with the winner after a corner.
The tinfoil-hat section of the Gunners’ support will note how VAR Michael Salisbury and his team could find no reason to disallow the Cherries’ winner after a long-ish check.
But the brutal truth is that Arsenal did not deserve to win.
Even before Liverpool had confirmed the inevitable last weekend, the Gunners' Premier League games were feeling like a contractual obligation.
BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS
Something to be endured or survived intact, rather than enjoyed.
Arsenal's season has been all about the Champions League for a while.
Which is what made Mikel Arteta’s team selection a bit surprising.
On the same day, PSG had fielded a starting 11 showing 10 changes from the first leg at the Emirates for their game at Strasbourg - and duly lost 2-1.
Arteta chose to play his strongest available team, with Thomas Partey coming back in after missing the 1-0 defeat through suspension and just one other alteration prompted by caution over Jurrien Timber.
Yet Arsenal suffered the same fate.
The Clock End displayed a new banner that read, “Believe and take us to Munich”.
A resident of the city that will host the Champions League final, England boss Thomas Tuchel was in the crowd.
In the early stages you - and probably he - wondered why he had bothered.
Very little indeed happened for the opening 15 minutes or so.
Then Rice had three glimpses of goal in quick succession.
He sent shots wide from the first two openings, and was then denied the opportunity to nod in Ben White’s cross by Illia Zabarnyi’s vigilant defensive header.
“You’re just a s**t Harry Arter,” was the mocking chant from the away fans.
Those same supporters should have been celebrating in the 26th minute.
Left back Milos Kerkez sent in a lovely cross and Evanilson wrestled free of Jakub Kiwior.
But the Brazilian centre forward, playing after his ridiculous red card against Manchester United was rescinded, headed wastefully over the bar.
Stung into action, Arsenal ought then to have scored themselves. But Gabriel Martinelli dragged his shot badly wide after being teed up by Bukayo Saka.
Martinelli soon turned provider, only for Kepa to get down well to save Leandro Trossard’s header.
Rice was not to be denied, however. Martin Odegaard burst clear and laid a well-weighted ball into the path of his team-mate’s intelligent run.
Rice kept his cool, took the ball past Kepa and then clipped it into the net despite Zabarnyi’s best efforts.
Bournemouth were disappointing, but threatened twice late in the half.
Justin Kluivert’s shot was deflected over by William Saliba, then Evanilson clipped the ball too high, wasting a great chance after Arsenal lost the ball 30 yards out.
Both teams started the second period with more vim and vigour than they had the first.
Saka wriggled free in the box but a shot with his less potent right foot went flashing wide of the far post.
The second goal that the home team needed for comfort would not come.
Apart from one Dango Ouattara cross, the Cherries did not look like finding an equaliser.
Iraola saw that and sent on Alex Scott and Semenyo with just over 25 minutes to go.
Semenyo was immediately guilty of a heavy touch on a promising run and Saliba cleared the ball wide.
But Semenyo launched the resulting throw into the box, where it was met by Huijsen with a deft header that nestled inside the far post.
Eight minutes later Bournemouth had the lead.
Marcus Tavernier headed on Alex Scott’s corner and the ball was bundled in at the far post by a combination of Evanilson, Odegaard and David Raya.
A VAR check first ruled out offside against the Brazilian and then handball. The away fans went bananas.
Some of the home supporters were getting annoyed by a perceived lack of commitment from their team.
Arteta made a triple change inside the last five minutes. But it was the same old story, for Arsenal’s league season at least.
6,000.000+downloads/Free/Bengali/Version2.3.4
777 BDT IPL 2025 Sports First Deposit Bonus
