Bournemouth beat a biggie - Arsenal gunned down 2-1

Match Report

AFCB 2 v 1 Arsenal

14 January 2018

Attendance: 10,836

Oh my! If 2018 is going to continue like this, teams had better watch out for the Cherries' second half fight and their impressive tenacity to rattle the establishment. Yes, Arsenal were big favourites and took the lead having been largely under pressure in the first half, but even when Hector Bellerin gave the Gunners the lead, Bournemouth knew they had goals in them. Howe's men came back and how. A four minute spell saw Ryan Fraser craft a beautiful cross for Callum Wilson to level before Jordan Ibe notched up his first Bournemouth goal, in what is no a historic first AFCB win against Arsenal. While Arsenal fans wallow in another failed attempt to find their way back to the top four, Bournemouth are unbeaten in five and can be satisfied they are now four points above the relegation zone.

Bournemouth take on Arsenal.

Bournemouth tried perhaps a more experimental line up than expected. Arter and Surman had to be content with a spot on the bench, while Lewis Cook and Dan Gosling would lead the Cherries midfield and Wilson would be supported by Ibe and Fraser on either side with a back three guarding the Cherries' goal.

There are more pictures on Match Day Gallery.

Jack Wilshere made Arsenal's starting line up.

The Cherries pushed forward early with Daniels and Adam Smith and Smith fired wide on three minutes. Arsenal soon came back with Bellerin having a shot blocked by Daniels.

Arsenal soon got Wilshere on the ball and he fund Lacazette who passed to Maitland-Niles who cracked a shot against the bar with Begovic beaten on eight minutes. Adam Smith and Francis had tried to close down the shot but just couldn't get a tackle in.

Iwobi was also getting on the ball and gave Begovic another deflected shot to save on 10 minutes. Arsenal brought in further pressure with a corner. 

Ibe was presented with a gift of a pass from Maitland-Niles on half way and the Bournemouth forward ran at the Arsenal defence well before playing a ball forward that Fraser just didn't read and the chance was gone. Bournemouth were finding their game though and Fraser next had a shot saved on 16 minutes.

Ibe was chasing Holding right across the Arsenal back line in his attempts to start the press. But Begovic had to be out quick to stop Welbeck running onto a long through ball.

When Gosling went down AFCB expected a free kick, but Referee Kevin Friend accused the Bournemouth midfielder of diving and yellow carded him on 21 minutes - an awful decision.

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Wilshere was getting plenty of possession even if Gosling kept tight to him. But another yellow card came Bournemouth's way on 30 minutes when Francis chopped across Welbeck's stride.  Arsenal began to get a few shots away with Xhaka having an effort deflected right to Begovic, before Welbeck bust through the middle and had his shot saved by Begovic's legs. A couple of Arsenal corners didn't amount to anything but the frustration for home fans was the poor refereeing decisions.

Ibe made a good run down the right and the cross fell for Fraser and while he shot well it was blocked at the last moment and went out for a corner.

Bournemouth had a corner themselves on 39 minutes after Ibe's blocked shot, but Fraser blasted his shot over when it came out to him. Bournemouth might have fancied grabbing a goal just before half time when Ibe stole in from a Fraser pass, but he didn't get a shoot away and Gosling committed a foul trying to get the ball back. So, it was 0-0 at half time.

No goals at half time.

Second half

Bournemouth had pressed well in the first half but found it hard to get out of their half at the start of the second. When they did get a corner they didn't win the header and Arsenal were soon on the attack. Daniels was slow to get back and Iwobi raced away and played in Bellerin who found himself with Begovic to beat. He shot and at first it looked like Begovic had kept it out but the ball bounded on and rolled into the net in the bottom right corner on 52 minutes.

It didn't deter the Cherries. They won a corner three minutes later but Fraser had his shot blocked. before Ibe was fouled by Xhaka who got a yellow card.

Eddie Howe made a sub on 63 minutes as Daniels was taken off and Mousset entered the game with Adam Smith moving to left back. Ibe linked up with Fraser well and Fraser had a shot saved low down as Bournemouth tried to get back into the game. Ibe then followed with another low shot that Cech had covered.

Meanwhile, Steve Cook was making some great tackles at the back. A break on the left saw Ibe and Faser linking up before the cross from Fraser low and curling across the box was inviting for Wilson to hit first time and steer it past the outstretched figure of Cech to make it 1-1 on 69 minutes.

Wilshere picked up a yellow card for a foul on Wilson, before Gosling fouled Wilshere.

Arsenal subbed Chambers for Ramsey on 73 minutes. It was perhaps not the best time as Bournemouth raced on with Adam Smith and Lewis Cook playing the ball up to Wilson who with his back to gaol played it back to Ibe, with the Arsenal defence out of position, and Ibe received the pass to slot home his first Bournemouth goal from just inside the box.

With Bournemouth now in the lead, Ryan Fraser was tempted to go for a big shot and drove a powerful shot just over from distance.

Arsenal subbed Iwobi for Walcott on 76 minutes. It was down to Bournemouth hold on now. Lys Mousset was doing much of the running up front now and Bournemouth were catching Arsenal offside more often.

A break by Bournemouth saw Adam Smith go extremely close with a shot that went inches wide of the left post after Ibe had played him through.

Ibe came off to much applause on 86 minutes letting Marc Pugh finish the game. It was a big sigh of relief when Begovic caught the ball on 89 minutes. Four minutes of added time were for once uneventful at Dean Court, apart from Afobe replacing Wilson, and Bournemouth had beaten Arsenal for their first home win of 2018.

Three lovely points!

Summary

Disbelief! Ecstasy!And sheer joy! Just about summed up my feelings after this crucial win. The Cherries would have been stuck in 17th place but for their two second half goals and to move up to 13th and take a big top six scalp was no more than Eddie Howe's side deserved. They have shown that they play well late in games and have now managed to get a valuable win from coming from behind. The fact that it was Arsenal as well, one of the few Premier League teams that AFCB had not beaten will be huge for confidence. We may just start seeing the best of the Cherries now.

All over and the Gunners get nothing.

Francis gets a congratulatory hug.

Bournemouth's line up.

AFCB Subs: Boruc, Simpson, Surman, Pugh, Arter, Afobe, Mousset.

AFCB Ratings

Begovic 7, Francis 6, S Cook 8, Aké 7, Daniels 7, A Smith 7, Gosling 8, L Cook 7, Ibe 9, Fraser 8, Wilson 8 

Arsenal

Cech, Chambers (Ramsey 74), Mustafi, Holding, Bellerín, Wilshere, Xhaka, Maitland-Niles,
Iwobi (Walcott 76), Welbeck, Lacazette

Arsenal Subs
Ospina, Mertesacker, Ramsey, Walcott, Kolasinac, El Neny, Nketiah

Ref Watch: Kevin Friend 2/10 another poor performance by Friend. Perhaps he should try something else. He was looking for diving were there wasn't any and didn't know half the time whether he should be giving goal kicks or corners. It was a shambles at times.