Anything But Easy But We Close In On Citeh
Oct 6th, 2019 by 'holic
The team pretty much was as expected for the visit of Bournemouth. I had speculated about Joe Willock and Gabriel Martinelli having opportunities but Dani Ceballos and Nicolas Pepe held on to their Premier League starting status.
We went close in the sixth minute with a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang effort from the inside-left channel that missed the far post by inches. We had started the brighter but this was the first real opportunity. Two minutes later we had the lead with a glancing header from David Luiz, his first goal for The Arsenal, from Pepe’s perfectly flighted corner.
The Arsenal 1-0 Bournemouth
We were served due warning that Bournemouth had some ambition when Solanke headed just wide of the target on seventeen minutes. A one goal lead is never comfortable, is it? Pepe attempted to double the lead with a delightful curler that just avoided corner off post and crossbar.
Midway through the half Aubameyang’s goal-bound effort was blocked to safety. Remarkably Martin Atkinson denied Pepe what appeared to be a blatant penalty, and VAR deemed it not to be a clear and obvious error, when he was brought down by Rico. Fair enough, you live by VAR and sometimes die by it too.
Granit Xhaka avoided a yellow card that would have earned him a suspension for a lazy trip on Wilson. Stacey was not as fortunate when he hauled back Sead Kolasinac.
Bukayo Saka lifted the spirits with a driving run at the Bournemouth left-back but he couldn’t cut the ball back and the ball was smothered at the near post by Ramsdale. Calum Chambers attempted a nigh on impossible volley from the inside-right channel and was closer than anyone expected. The half-time whistle should have seen a greater advantage, but didn’t.
The industrious Saka denied Solanke on the edge of our box as Bournemouth attempted to level affairs. The visitors had clearly come out with a little more appetite for the battle. Wilson all but equalised when he rounded Leno but cut the ball back square and Chambers cleared, much to everyone’s relief. Stacey drew a vital parry from Leno from a tight angle. How we needed that second goal.
Just past the hour mark the crowd were lifted by the sight of Gabriel Martinelli getting prepared for his Premier League debut. Pepe made way with another assist to his name. Bournemouth sent on Fraser (remember him?) for Solanke. Immediately Chambers had to be alert to deny Fraser as the Cherries again sought an opportunity.
Martinelli’s first involvement saw him get a yellow card for bringing down Wilson from behind. Joe Willock joined him on the pitch with a quarter of an hour to go in place of Ceballos, largely ineffective in the second-half. Bournemouth too rang the changes, with Stacey and Wilson replaced by Groeneveld and Francis.
Martinelli’s sighter was narrowly high and wide before Unai Emery decided to protect our slender advantage by sending on Lucas Torreira for Saka, who had enjoyed a mixed afternoon. It’s all a part of life’s rich learning curve. The signal of five additional minutes did nothing to settle the nerves. Chambers, outstanding on the day, teed up Aubameyang but for once the golden boot winner misfired.
We held on, and were treated to the sight of Wolves taking a last gasp 0-2 winner at the Emptihad. In the end not a bad day, eh? Third place and closing in on the Citizens.