Arsenal suffer huge EPL title race blow with home defeat to Bournemouth

Arsenal dropped points in the English Premier League (EPL) title race with a 2-1 loss at home to Bournemouth in the early kick-off on Saturday.

The Gunners conceded once in each half and failed to make their dominance count in the shock defeat, with Alex Scott scoring the winner after Viktor Gyokores cancelled Eli Junior Kroupi’s early goal for the visitors.

Arsenal have been less than impressive in recent matches, especially on the home front, and started the trio of Kai Havertz, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Gabriel Martinelli to re-jig the side, but Bournemouth took advantage of the home side’s hesitancy with the lead on 13 minutes, as Kroupi poked home at the back post to stun the home crowd.

Arsenal dragged themselves back level on 35 minutes as Gyokores slotted home a penalty awarded for handball, with both sides going into the break level.

Mikel Arteta’s side were unsettled by the pressing from Andoni Iraola’s side, and despite making a triple change, it was Bournemouth that regained their lead on 74 minutes with a well-worked team goal. Evanilson slipped through Scott after drifting into space in the Arsenal defence before providing an emphatic finish for the match-winning goal.

Victory sees Bournemouth do the double over Arsenal in the EPL for the first time, while the Gunners suffered a third loss in five domestic matches.

Arsenal remain top of the league with a nine-point lead over Manchester City, who have played two matches less, as the EPL title race enters the last six matches of the season.

Bournemouth ended a run of five consecutive draws, and their 12-match unbeaten run has moved the Cherries up to ninth position as they look to steal a slot for European football next season. (TheCable)