Arsenal ended a difficult November on a high by beating an impressive Bournemouth side 3-1. Alexis Sanchez found his scoring boots after a recent barren run in the league, his goals opening the scoring and sealing the game in injury time. Theo Walcott also continued his impressive start to the season with a decisive header to make it two after Bournemouth had equalized through a Wilson penalty.
Arsene Wenger made wholesale changes from the team that drew 2-2 with PSG during midweek. Cech returned in goal, Debuchy made his first league start in over a year at right back, Elneny and Xhaka formed the midfield duo, Sanchez and Walcott returned to their forward positions, and Oxlade-Chamberlain was rewarded for his good substitute showings with a start on the wing. With Jack Wilshere ineligible to start for Bournemouth, Adam Smith partnered Harry Arter in the center with Joshua King occupying the advanced midfield position.
Arsenal were on the ascendancy in the opening ten minutes, peppering Bournemouth’s goal with half chances. Ozil’s shot was bravely blocked by Ake in the second minute, Elneny’s drive was also blocked by the Chelsea loanee, and Ake was once again at hand to shield the ball from Walcott after the winger was set free by an Alexis lofted pass.
Just when they had weathered the initial storm though, Bournemouth cut a hole in their own sails. Captain Steve Cook’s back pass was woefully under-hit, and the ever vigilant Alexis capitalized to sweep it under the keeper and give Arsenal the lead.
The Gunners eased off after going in front, reminiscent of the performance against PSG. In the 21st minute, when Wilson and Monreal collided in the box, the referee controversially pointed to the spot. Wilson tucked away the penalty confidently and gave Bournemouth a renewed wave of momentum. A couple of minutes later, Ake’s header across goal should have been put in by Adam Smith, but the midfielder’s cranium ballooned the ball over the post.
Still Bournemouth pushed. Lovely interplay between Arter and Wilson found Brad Smith in the box, and the full back should have squared it across goal but instead chose to test Cech’s near post, a challenge the keeper proved equal to. Arsenal were rattled.
They eventually responded, upping the tempo of the game and trying to press Bournemouth out of possession. Elneny successfully nipped the ball in the opposition half, but his sliced shot left much to be desired. With Bournemouth players crowding the box and space coming at a premium, Arsenal needed quick passing combinations to break through. In the 37th minute, an Alexis dink found Ozil who cushioned the return back to the onrushing Chilean, only for the shot to rise above the bar.
Sanchez was easily Arsenal’s best player in a disjointed first half performance. On the cusp of half time, his rasping shot escaped Federici’s fingertips but cannoned off the bar. Parity after 45 minutes, and Bournemouth deserved their goal on the balance of play.
Whether through stern words from the manager or some much needed introspection, Arsenal emerged in the second period with more aggression, desire, and drive. The rhythm and verticality of their passes paid dividends almost immediately: Alexis and Ozil exchanged passes on the right side of the box, the German jinked and tricked before finding Monreal, whose excellent cross on the half volley was headed in by Walcott.
Although their second half performance was improved, Arsenal will still be disappointed by the number of chances they allowed Bournemouth to have at 2-1. Afobe’s poke was brilliantly saved on the line by Cech, Monreal survived a scary handball shout in the box, and although Mousset’s header in the 89th minute was tame, the freedom afforded to him in the box was criminal.
In attack, Arsenal looked dangerous every time Alexis got the ball. In the 60th minute, he charged down the wing after being released by a sumptuous through ball by Xhaka, with his low pass across goal just evading Ozil’s reach. Fifteen minutes later, the lion-hearted Chilean found Ozil again, this time with an outside-of-the-foot curler that took the breath away. Ozil’s back-heel to Chamberlain ultimately came to nothing, but that Alexis pass deserved a goal.
As the clock ticked down to full-time and Arsenal labored towards a win, a well-worked move added some gloss to the score-line. A crunching Mustafi tackle left Arsenal 3v2 in attack. Giroud passed to Ozil and rushed to meet the German’s return ball. With the Bournemouth defense static and unmindful of a lurking Alexis, Giroud fizzed a low pass into the box for Alexis to tap in and seal the game.
Overall, Arsene Wenger will be heartened by the win and improved performance, but Arsenal still didn’t click for long periods in this game. With tough away matches at West Ham, Everton, and Man City on the horizon, similar performances may not result in three points in December.
Arsenal ended a difficult November on a high by beating an impressive Bournemouth side 3-1. Alexis Sanchez found his scoring boots after a recent barren run in the league, his goals opening the scoring and sealing the game in injury time. Theo Walcott also continued his impressive start to the season with a decisive header to make it two after Bournemouth had equalized through a Wilson penalty.
Arsene Wenger made wholesale changes from the team that drew 2-2 with PSG during midweek. Cech returned in goal, Debuchy made his first league start in over a year at right back, Elneny and Xhaka formed the midfield duo, Sanchez and Walcott returned to their forward positions, and Oxlade-Chamberlain was rewarded for his good substitute showings with a start on the wing. With Jack Wilshere ineligible to start for Bournemouth, Adam Smith partnered Harry Arter in the center with Joshua King occupying the advanced midfield position.
Arsenal were on the ascendancy in the opening ten minutes, peppering Bournemouth’s goal with half chances. Ozil’s shot was bravely blocked by Ake in the second minute, Elneny’s drive was also blocked by the Chelsea loanee, and Ake was once again at hand to shield the ball from Walcott after the winger was set free by an Alexis lofted pass.
Just when they had weathered the initial storm though, Bournemouth cut a hole in their own sails. Captain Steve Cook’s back pass was woefully under-hit, and the ever vigilant Alexis capitalized to sweep it under the keeper and give Arsenal the lead.
The Gunners eased off after going in front, reminiscent of the performance against PSG. In the 21st minute, when Wilson and Monreal collided in the box, the referee controversially pointed to the spot. Wilson tucked away the penalty confidently and gave Bournemouth a renewed wave of momentum. A couple of minutes later, Ake’s header across goal should have been put in by Adam Smith, but the midfielder’s cranium ballooned the ball over the post.
Still Bournemouth pushed. Lovely interplay between Arter and Wilson found Brad Smith in the box, and the full back should have squared it across goal but instead chose to test Cech’s near post, a challenge the keeper proved equal to. Arsenal were rattled.
They eventually responded, upping the tempo of the game and trying to press Bournemouth out of possession. Elneny successfully nipped the ball in the opposition half, but his sliced shot left much to be desired. With Bournemouth players crowding the box and space coming at a premium, Arsenal needed quick passing combinations to break through. In the 37th minute, an Alexis dink found Ozil who cushioned the return back to the onrushing Chilean, only for the shot to rise above the bar.
Sanchez was easily Arsenal’s best player in a disjointed first half performance. On the cusp of half time, his rasping shot escaped Federici’s fingertips but cannoned off the bar. Parity after 45 minutes, and Bournemouth deserved their goal on the balance of play.
Whether through stern words from the manager or some much needed introspection, Arsenal emerged in the second period with more aggression, desire, and drive. The rhythm and verticality of their passes paid dividends almost immediately: Alexis and Ozil exchanged passes on the right side of the box, the German jinked and tricked before finding Monreal, whose excellent cross on the half volley was headed in by Walcott.
Although their second half performance was improved, Arsenal will still be disappointed by the number of chances they allowed Bournemouth to have at 2-1. Afobe’s poke was brilliantly saved on the line by Cech, Monreal survived a scary handball shout in the box, and although Mousset’s header in the 89th minute was tame, the freedom afforded to him in the box was criminal.
In attack, Arsenal looked dangerous every time Alexis got the ball. In the 60th minute, he charged down the wing after being released by a sumptuous through ball by Xhaka, with his low pass across goal just evading Ozil’s reach. Fifteen minutes later, the lion-hearted Chilean found Ozil again, this time with an outside-of-the-foot curler that took the breath away. Ozil’s back-heel to Chamberlain ultimately came to nothing, but that Alexis pass deserved a goal.
As the clock ticked down to full-time and Arsenal labored towards a win, a well-worked move added some gloss to the score-line. A crunching Mustafi tackle left Arsenal 3v2 in attack. Giroud passed to Ozil and rushed to meet the German’s return ball. With the Bournemouth defense static and unmindful of a lurking Alexis, Giroud fizzed a low pass into the box for Alexis to tap in and seal the game.
Overall, Arsene Wenger will be heartened by the win and improved performance, but Arsenal still didn’t click for long periods in this game. With tough away matches at West Ham, Everton, and Man City on the horizon, similar performances may not result in three points in December.