Arsenal does not give up: the Gunners beat Bournemouth 3-0 at home | Premier League today

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Leandro Trossard (centre) celebrates after scoring the 2-0 goal with Martin Odegaard (left) and Declan Rice during the match between Arsenal and Bournemouth.

Photo: EFE – TOLGA AKMEN

Winner of 14 of their last 16 Premier League games, without yet depending on themselves to be champion, awaiting Manchester City’s result this afternoon, Arsenal thrashed Bournemouth (3-0), insisted on pressure and He maintained his still provisional leadership with a conclusive victory on the scoreboard, but controversial on the route, due to the debatable 1-0 penalty and the goal disallowed by the rival.

Two key plays in the outcome of the duel, far from clear, more than doubtful, overshadowed the victory of the London team, undoubtedly deserved, especially for everything they created in the first stretch of the match until half-time, but not so much in the second half. , when Andoni Iraola’s team resumed the debate on the result.

Arsenal beat Bournemouth in the first half. Due to a matter of punch, so precious in football, so widespread in the “big ones” that dominate Europe, they did not take the lead on the scoreboard until the edge of half-time. Debatable penalty. But, when he did, he had already deserved to beat Andoni Iraola’s group, which he allowed nothing more than to defend and resist until the break.

The strange thing was the 0-0 in the 20th minute, when Arsenal had already proposed eleven shots, only three of them between the three posts. Also beyond. Between the defenders, with incredible and savior clearances at times, and goalkeeper Mark Travers, the best of all on his team, who had only made 37 passes at that point in the match, they calmed all the storm that the Gunner team unleashed on everything. that section. His opponent endured it.

At expressive levels of possession then, 81 to 19, the London team lacked skill in the last few meters, when games and competitions are truly resolved. He missed the goal. Everything else he did as he should have done. His wealth of chances are a reflection of absolute superiority. The result was the only unreal thing seen on the ground.

First were the defenders, against whom Odegaard, Saka and Trossard crashed their shots inside the goal. Then the goalkeeper, who stopped everything. To Havertz, in a beautiful volley with his left foot; Saliba, in a brilliant offensive foray; to Saka, on the right flank; to Thomas, when he stretched out to deny him the 1-0. There was no way to beat it, then, between the lamentation of Mikel Arteta and between the threats of reaction from his opponent.

The last straw was Declan Rice’s right cross that crossed too far inside the area, next to the penalty spot, in an unbeatable position if it weren’t for all the defenders who pounced on him. His shot was adjusted by the post. Another opportunity, in the 37th minute. The twelfth shot inside the area. The fifteenth. An almost total siege. No goal.

Until the 45th minute. Until a penalty that did not seem clear at all. It is more than debatable. Havertz faced Travers and, when he overtook him, leaning, he left his left leg behind with the sole purpose – not natural – of hitting the goalkeeper’s leg and falling to the ground. A maximum penalty promoted by the forward. There was contact, but caused by him. The VAR reviewed it and confirmed it. On the brink of half-time, Saka transformed it.

Then, in the second half, he forgave the 2-0, with a shot that was too condescending to the goalkeeper, much more dangerous than it really was with his weak shot. More damaging was Havertz’s next action, repelled again by Travers, at ground level, stretched out, with his right hand, to hold his team on the brink of a broader defeat, but alive in the match, even daring to counterattack from time to time.

And suddenly Solanke warned Arsenal. His shot with his right foot was cleared with difficulty by David Raya, warned, like his entire team, that nothing had been resolved yet. Not much less. It was dictated by the score, far beyond the game. Justin Kluviert scared again, with a right hand that was more powerful than precise. He went outside. The second warning from Bournemouth that they had proposed more shots on the opponent’s goal than the locals in the second half.

When he felt worst, when he saw the victory most in doubt, also the ‘Premier’, a maneuver by Declan Rice recommended the goal of Leandro Trossard, who transformed the 2-0 in the 70th minute with his right foot. His sixteenth goal of the season. And the sentence of the duel, because, instantly later, the 2-1 score against Bournemouth was annulled. More controversy.

The referee, David Coote, and the VAR deemed Solanke’s movement as a foul, which minimally hindered Raya as he exited the area. The error in the clearance by the Spanish international goalkeeper enabled Christie’s shot to hit the crossbar and Semenyo’s rebound goal. It wasn’t worth it. A relief for Arsenal, who scored 3-0 through Rice in the final moments and that puts the pressure, once again, on Manchester City, who plays against Wolves.

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