AFC Bournemouth 3-3 Arsenal: Extended Match Highlights

Bournemouth 3-3 Arsenal…

Arsenal suffered a huge blow to our title chances after a disastrous first-half caused us to drop points at Bournemouth in a 3-3 draw.

We simply didn’t turn up to play in the opening 45 minutes, allowing the hosts to race into a 3-0 lead inside 45 minutes with little resistance.

Charlie Daniels opened the scoring for Eddie Howe’s men after he was left in an unbelievable amount of space due to Theo Walcott and Hector Bellerin’s carelessness.

Just two minutes later, Bournemouth were lining up to take a penalty after Granit Xhaka’s daft tackle on Ryan Fraser as he raced away from goal.

Callum Wilson tucked the penalty home, putting the ball in the exact same position he placed it less than six weeks ago at the Emirates Stadium – Petr Cech should’ve done better.

The south coast side weren’t done, Fraser raced onto a through ball – pushing Bellerin over in the process – and managed to bundle the ball past Cech at his near post.

Despite the little help from the referee, it was a goal we really could’ve avoided and it left us in a precarious position.

From here on, it would take an almighty effort to take home the three points we needed if we were to keep our title hopes alive.

Alexis Sanchez gave us a faint hope of a comeback after sneaking at the back post with a dividing header thanks to an Olivier Giroud flick.

Lucas Perez followed up shortly after with one of the goals of the season, proving once again that he’s one of the most efficient members of our squad.

Bournemouth were now on the ropes. Captain Simon Francis was sent off for a reckless challenge on Aaron Ramsey which meant all hands were to the pump.

The game was strictly played in the Cherries’ half with Olivier Giroud causing a nuisance. And it was the Frenchman who netted the equaliser with a clever header.

3-3!

However, instead of rushing to the centre circle with four minutes left on the clock against a reeling side with 10-men, Giroud did this:

La célébration façon coups du scorpion d’Olivier Giroud pic.twitter.com/dBjk4LBlPM

— Pronosoft (@PronosoftSite) January 4, 2017

It summed up our ambition and attitude towards the season in so many ways – we’re just happy to make do.

In the end, the draw leaves us further behind leaders Chelsea and makes the trip to Stamford Bridge next month all the more important.

Source: Sky Sports