Player Ratings: Arsenal 3-2 Bournemouth

Arsenal beat Bournemouth 3-2 after staging an incredible comeback



Player Ratings: Arsenal 3-2 Bournemouth


Arsenal 3-2 Bournemouth

Arsenal came back from two goals down to post a remarkable victory against a Bournemouth side that shocked the Emirates by going 2-0 ahead after just nine seconds. 

A strike from Dango Ouattara following a move straight from kick-off put the Cherries 1-0 a matter of seconds into the game, shocking the home support in the process.

Worse was to come for the Gunners when Leandro Trossard limped off with only 20 minutes gone, to be replaced by Emile Smith Rowe. 

Despite considerable home pressure the Cherries doubled their lead when Marcos Senesi got the march on his man, Thomas Partey, to nod home Joe Rothwell's corner on 57 minutes.

Partey, who replaced Jorginho for his first game in three weeks, made amends by slotting home from Smith Rowe's header in the box on five minutes later. 

It was to be Smith Rowe's last action of the match, as Reiss Nelson substituted the young attacker. Nelson made an immediate impact by crossing for Ben White to fire home past Neto, who had earlier been booked for timewasting. 

However, a point was not good enough for Mikel Arteta's side, as they continued to hunt for a winner, as Manchester City closed to within three points of the Premier League leaders following their 2-0 victory over Newcastle in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off. 

It duly came from Reiss Nelson who scored in the seventh minute of injury time to give the Gunners an incredible 3-2 victory, to cue absolute pandemonium on the pitch and in the stands after the game of the season. 

No wonder the drained Gunners boss admitted afterwards: "That was probably the loudest and most emotional moment we have had together."

Find out who impressed with our Arsenal Player Ratings

Aaron Ramsdale: 7/10 - Shocked by Billings' Cherries opener from the kick-off, but recovered well to make a tremendous block from Dango Ouattara on 20 minutes.

Takehiro Tomiyasu: 5/10 - Swapped with Ben White after a busy week

William Saliba: 5/10 - Caught flatfooted for the opener and given a surprisingly torrid time by the Cherries attack, at least when the Bournemouth backline weren't time wasting

Gabriel: 5/10 - See above

Olexsandr Zinchenko: 6/10 - Influential in steering his team back from two goals down

Fabio Vieira: 4/10 - Ineffectual. Owes Arsenal a good game in Lisbon, because he certainly didn't have one today

Thomas Partey: 6.5/10 - Replaced Jorginho for his first game in three weeks. Rusty when it came to tracking Marcos Sensei in the box for the Cherries second goal. Redeemed himself somewhat with his goal just after the hour mark.

Martin Odegaard: 7/10 - Led his side with passion and never faltered in his bid to get Arsenal back in the game

Bukayo Saka: 7/10 - Forced an early save from Neto and kept the Bournemouth backline on the toes throughout, which included a fascinating duel with No33 Jordan Zemura

Gabi Martinelli: 7/10 Switched to a more central role after Trossard's early exit

Leandro Trossard: 5/10 - Forced off as early as the 20th minute to be replaced by Emile Smith Rowe

Substitutes:

Emile Smith Rowe: 5.5/10 - Took over from the limping Trossard early in the first half. Subbed off in the second half with injury fears

Reiss Nelson: 8/10 Replaced ESR and made an immediate impact with a cross for Ben White's equaliser then grabbed an unliekly winner 

Ben White: Replaced Tomiyasu and promptly grabbed the leveller


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