Arsenal’s preparations for their crucial midweek Champions League second leg against Paris St-Germain suffered a setback as they were beaten 2-1 at home by Bournemouth. The loss disrupted the Gunners’ push to build momentum ahead of their trip to France, where they’ll attempt to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg and reach the final of Europe’s top competition.
Manager Mikel Arteta opted not to rotate his squad despite the looming continental fixture, starting a strong XI at Emirates Stadium. However, his side couldn’t capitalise on their early lead and were ultimately undone by Bournemouth’s resilience and efficiency in the second half.
The home fans had cause to celebrate in the first half when midfielder Declan Rice marked his milestone 100th appearance for Arsenal in style. The England international calmly rounded Bournemouth goalkeeper Kepa before slotting the ball home to put his side in front. Arsenal maintained control through much of the first half, while Bournemouth missed a handful of promising chances to equalise.
Huijsen and Evanilson turn the tide
Bournemouth came out with renewed energy after the break and steadily grew into the game. Their breakthrough arrived in the 67th minute when Dean Huijsen met a long throw from Antoine Semenyo and directed a powerful header past the Arsenal defence to level the score.
The momentum had clearly shifted, and just eight minutes later, the visitors struck again. A corner into the box caused chaos in front of goal, allowing Evanilson to muscle the ball over the line. The scrappy goal proved decisive, securing Bournemouth’s first-ever win at the Emirates Stadium and silencing the home crowd.
Arsenal, despite their strong starting lineup and early lead, couldn’t recover from the turnaround. Attempts to regain control in the final stages fell short, and the final whistle confirmed a disappointing result for the hosts.
Implications for both sides in European race
While the loss doesn’t alter Arsenal’s position in the table, they remain second with their lead over third-placed Manchester City now trimmed to three points. The result puts additional pressure on Arteta’s squad ahead of their upcoming Champions League decider, where they must deliver a comeback performance in France to keep their hopes of European silverware alive.
For Bournemouth, the victory represents more than just a morale boost. Climbing to eighth in the standings, the result strengthens their ambitions of qualifying for European competition next season. It’s a landmark moment for the club, not only for the result but also for the way they overcame a strong Arsenal side away from home.
