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Key events
88 min Man of the match was Declan Rice, who settled the argument and the crowd’s nerves by making the only assist.
88 min Arsenal couldn’t complain about that, unlike Bournemouth when they had the ball in the net.
Canceled goal!
A searing kick from Gabriel with his left leg… or maybe his shin. But the flag is up, probably for Havertz.
85 min A second Arsenal below: Jesus replaces Saka, who receives an even bigger ovation from Trosar.
84 min Bournemouth have some possession with shot control. As Arsenal win the ball back down the left, Havertz is fouled by Adam Smith, who goes into the book.
83 min Martinelli instantly rushes into the area and thinks he’s won a penalty, but David Coote disagrees and so does VAR.
81 min Havertz misses the keeper, hits the crossbar – but is in an ambush anyway. Trossard exits to a standing ovation he wouldn’t have received if he hadn’t finally scored.
80 min Iraola sends Unal to Senesi. I missed his replacement a few minutes ago too, sorry – Billing for Scott.
77 min At the other end, Partey releases Saka, whose cut-back looks like a gift to Odegaard… but he fires into the side-netting.
No, there is no goal
We are in the nether world of endless repetition…but eventually the decision is confirmed. Iraola can’t believe it and it really looks like it Bournemouth they have a strong case. Solanke was penalized for allegedly fouling Ray when he didn’t do much at all.
74 min Bournemouth Hit the post with one volley, then find the net with another – and they think there’s a foul on them…
Bournemouth put the ball in the net!
… but the referee blows for a free kick Arsenal.
72 min Arsenal’s goal difference is now 59. They are nine ahead of Man City and that may still not be enough.
71 min Rice, back in goal, was assisted with a lovely deft touch and Trossar, who could have been substituted at half-time, finally found a decent finish, slotting the ball into the far corner.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Bournemouth (Trossard 71)
That’s it for Declan Rice.
68 min The Bournemouth the midfielder, who had nothing to declare in the first half apart from his ability to foul, is now masterfully playing through balls. The latter reaches Semenyo, who could do better than block his cross.
67 min Solanke, back in his own half, heads a clean corner. The strike count is now 20-6 so it was 5-4 to Bournemouth from half time.
66 min At the other end, the ball skips the six-yard box with no one to poke it. Where is Jesus when you need him?
65 min A great ball from Christie frees Kluivert down the left, but he takes too long to consider his options and ends up having his shot blocked.
63 min Kluivert’s shot goes over the bar. Jorginho warms up as Arsenal look to regain control.
62 min Free kick for Bournemouth near D.
60 min The sand cup is turned with Bournemouth they are still playing much better than they were. Arsenal responded with a few fouls – there was a yellow card for Partey for a rough tackle, and now Havertz got one for an elbow in an aerial duel.
59 min Another strike for Bournemouth! From Kluivert coming in from the left, good shot but wide.
57 min From a corner, Gabriel’s header went wide of the near post. Moments later Odegaard fired over the bar from a promising position.
57 min Normal service resumes as Arsenal won a corner. We need a special camera for Ben White.
56 min Bournemouth are more focused and they even managed to hold the ball in this half, 55 to 45. When they get their final touch right, the game will go on.
55 min Half chance for Saka! Well guarded by Lewis Cook, who manages to swing his right foot around Saka’s left and collect the ball.
53 min Bournemouth try! Their first in about 50 minutes. It falls to the right man, Solanke, but the angle is narrow and his shot is straight at Raya.
52 min Arsenal dance around the edge of the box. The chance falls to Havertz, whose left foot shot is not sharp enough.
49 min Chance for Saka! Rice wins the ball back high and pokes it to Havertz, who slides it straight to Saka. He has plenty of time, but for the first time he doesn’t have enough composure and his shot is easily saved by Travers. Saka remains with only 20 goals for the season.
48 min A little better than Bournemouthwhich prompts Semenyo to break in from the right, but the attack soon fizzles out.
46 min Arsenal get started and go right ahead.
It was a one sided game.
16 shots and 2.2 expected goals for Arsenal in the first 45 minutes.
They haven’t scored more than either of them in the first half in the Premier League this season!#ARSBOU pic.twitter.com/PwJlc7XYcn
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) May 4, 2024
“Havertz’s significant improvement was a huge relief,” says Alex Whitney, “but there are two flaws in his game that still disappoint – his sometimes leaden feet and his diving. It wasn’t a penalty. I have to feel for Travers and Bournemouth.”
This email came about half an hour later. “With many referees, both Scott and Christie would have racked up enough cards to be sent off by now,” writes David Dane. “That knee-spike challenge should have been red in itself; what the hell is VAR for if not to protect against this kind of challenge?” Good question and I have one for you: are you on David Dane?
HALF TIME! Arsenal 1-0 Bournemouth
They should be 4-0 up with all the chances they’ve had, but maybe Arsenal will take it 1-0 after doing everything right apart from being clinical in front of goal. They broke through Bournemouth’s midfield at will and made 16 of 17 attempts on goal. They should get away with it though, but you never know.
45+4 min Iraola was waving his arms as he sent his team onto the pitch. They respond with another of their half-minute possession spells.
45+2 min We have four added minutes which the crowd uses to sing in triumph.
45 min Saka kept calm and headed the ball to the left, while Travers went the other way. Pressure? What pressure?
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Bournemouth (Saka 45, penalty)
Saka steps up… and scores!
The penalty is confirmed!
After a dozen replays, VAR agrees with David Coote.
Penalty for Arsenal!
41 min Travers may have been wrong this time to bring down Havertz – although the keeper insists Havertz had his leg dangling…
40 min Save! As Rice approaches a teasing chip from Odegaard, Travers pounces and parries the ball away. He is made of raw stuff.
39 min This brought in the biggest oo in the game so far, and there have been a few.
38 min Big miss! Rice has a golden chance from ten yards, but the ball spins away from him and goes wide.
37 min Havertz can’t get his feet straight from point-blank range, so the ball just hits him – but the flag goes up anyway, as White had gone too early.
35 min Saliba gets into a race with Justin Kluivert, who matches him for pace, but then fouls him. Arsenal study again.
33 min Bournemouth finally stringing together some deliveries in the middle of the pitch.
31 min Arsenal play so dominantly that Bournemouth look like the team that was 19th in the fall. But still after half an hour there is no goal to show for it.
28 min Someone has challenged Ryan Christie to see how many times he can foul Saka without going in the book. He’s three now.
27 min Arsenal they assert themselves again, feeling the edge of the box. The chance eventually fell to Partey, whose left-footed strike was not as surgical as it should have been.
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