Bournemouth’s Alex Scott threw the Premier League title race wide open with the winning goal as his side beat leaders Arsenal 2-1 at The Emirates.
Midfielder Scott produced a cool finish after a neat build-up in the 74th minute to stun the nervous-looking hosts on Saturday and provide a huge boost for chasers Manchester City.
Defeat left a labouring Arsenal still with a seemingly commanding nine-point lead over City but Pep Guardiola’s side have played two games fewer and can close the gap if they beat Chelsea on Sunday. Arsenal’s first defeat in nine league games means they have 70 points from 32 games to City’s 61 from 30. City also have the incentive of hosting Arsenal next weekend.
Bournemouth were the better side in the first half and took the lead when Eli Junior Kroupi turned in a deflected cross at the far post in the 17th minute. Kroupi has now scored 10 times in the top flight this season — the first teenager to reach that mark in his debut campaign in the Premier League since Robbie Keane for Coventry City in the 1999-2000 season.
Arsenal’s response was lacklustre and they looked bereft of attacking spark as the home crowd grew frustrated.
Mikel Arteta’s side got a helping hand when Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie was adjudged to have blocked a ball into the area with his arm, allowing Viktor Gyokeres to equalise from the spot in the 35th minute.
Arsenal huffed and puffed looking for a winner but it was Bournemouth who provided the twist as they moved into ninth place and in contention for a European qualifying spot. Arsenal began the game on a four-match winning run in the Premier League and had they made it five to move 12 points ahead of City they would have surely been on the cusp of a first English title since 2004.
They had not been in league action for almost a month though and in that time they had suffered a League Cup final defeat by City and a shock FA Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of second-tier Southampton.
A steadying 1-0 victory against Sporting this week in the Champions League quarter-final first leg should have paved the way for a commanding display against Bournemouth.
But they can have no complaints against an agile side who played on Arsenal’s nerves with their clever brand of football.
