The match was marked by dramatic moments, beginning with Bukayo Saka’s penalty conversion just before halftime, awarded after Kai Havertz was deemed to have been fouled by Bournemouth’s Mark Travers. Leandro Trossard and Declan Rice added to Arsenal’s tally in the second half, sealing a 3-0 win.
The outcome could have been different if Antoine Semenyo’s goal had stood, but Dominic Solanke’s challenge on David Raya led to the goal being disallowed, amidst yet another VAR controversy. Despite Bournemouth’s efforts, Arsenal maintained their lead, keeping them four points ahead of Manchester City, who have two games in hand.
Bournemouth faced an uphill battle from the start, with Travers making several crucial saves to keep Arsenal at bay. The Cherries struggled to gain momentum, with Arsenal dominating possession and creating numerous scoring opportunities. The breakthrough came just before halftime when Havertz was brought down in the box, leading to Saka’s composed penalty conversion.
As the game progressed, Bournemouth showed signs of resurgence, but Arsenal’s defense held firm. Trossard’s clinical finish extended Arsenal’s lead before controversy struck again with Semenyo’s disallowed goal. Despite Gabriel’s disallowed strike, Rice sealed the victory with a well-taken goal in added time.
The win was a testament to Arsenal’s resilience and determination in the face of adversity, keeping their title hopes alive amidst a fiercely competitive Premier League season.
