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AFC Bournemouth returned from the international break and welcomed Premier League title contenders Arsenal to Dean Court, the game was selected by Sky Sports to be shown on Saturday Night Football and the match felt like a big game for both sides.
The Cherries made a tactical switch in the starting line-up, opting to concede the higher line of the press in order to attempt to be a bit more compact in midfield. Knowing that Arsenal would want to dominate possession of the football for long spells of the game. This tactical switch worked as the first half an hour saw Arsenal completely nullified of any attacking presence and the visitors created nothing to trouble Kepa.
Just after the half an hour mark and the game turned on a decision that ultimately saw William Saliba sent off after a check by VAR. The Arsenal defender hauled down Evanilson when the Brazilian was set to be through on goal.
The pendulum turned in the home sides favour and they now dominated more of the ball with the extra man. Arsenal ironically had their best chance shortly after the sending-off, but the Cherries got more and more into the game and Semenyo and Tavernier both had chances to open the scoring before half time.
Tactical changes came at the break with Iraola putting Semenyo back on his more familiar position on the right and O.Dango switched to the left.
Another chance came and went for Semenyo before Kepa almost gifted Arsenal the opener and then made a good recovery save to apologise. This second opportunity at goal ended up being Arsenal's final chance of note in the game.
Shortly afterwards, AFC Bournemouth opened the scoring with a well-worked corner routine dispatched into the top corner by Ryan Christie.
Ten minutes later the game was put to bed when Evanilson was brought down in the box by David Raya in the Arsenal goal. Justin Kluivert dispatched the penalty to confirm the points.
After the match, AFC Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola told the Daily Echo...
"I think we've been talking these two weeks about recovering these points that I think we shouldn't have lost against Leicester, considering how the game went and it's nice to recover them against Arsenal.
"Obviously, once they receive the red card, the game becomes a little bit easier.
"Not easy, but a little bit easier. But even before, I think we were doing a good game and I think it's a very valuable three points for us."
A great weekend
- AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) October 20, 2024
darwinsdummy What a game! Controlled it well at the start and prevented them from getting any upper hand until the red card gave us the advantage. From there the defence and midfield smothered most any chance Arsenal tried to create and gave our offence the time to pick its way through. Great to see Christie score, always hope that getting one may help settle his nerves when shooting and build some confidence to be more clinical. My only real critique is that Semenyo seemed a bit more lethargic on the left in the first half than on the right in the second, not sure I see a reason to start with him on the left when paired with Dango who has been putting in good crosses from the left this season (Dango mercurial as ever today, half the time he stumbles into the man and half the time he ghosts by to whip in a good cross).
Big credit to Evanilson today, his tireless pressing won both the red card and the penalty, could be a shout for MOTM due to his impact on the game, though it was well-deserved for Cook (if Eva took and scored the penalty I'd give it to him, but it probably was wise to let Kluivert handle it). Watching Evanilson this season feels a lot like Solanke's first season in the Championship for us. A lot of good, hard graft that helps the team create chances and goals but not quite getting the goals and accolades himself. Give him a season or so to build better relationships with the rest team so they start finding his runs more often and getting the ball to him at the right moments, then I think we'll see him start racking up the score like Solanke's 2nd Championship and 2nd Premier League (current stint) seasons. My bet is he'll get 8-12 goals this season and 15+ next.
"I'm normally right down the pecking order"
That reaction from Ryan Christie to his goal from a well-worked Bournemouth set piece pic.twitter.com/j2jnK6sbfX
- Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 19, 2024
SuperAliSantos Nice to see the stepover corner routine make an appearance. Christie confirmed on his Sky interview that Shaun Cooper was responsible for it, and it's nice to have that link to Sean O'Driscoll era.
#BOUARS - 27' VAR OVERTURN
The referee gave Saliba a yellow card for a challenge on Evanilson. The VAR deemed that Saliba denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and recommended an on-field review. The referee then upgraded the yellow to a red card.
- Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) October 19, 2024
"He panics"
Theo Walcott and Jamie Redknapp take a closer look at William Saliba's red card pic.twitter.com/t4ubDwn7JG
- Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 19, 2024
table That was fun. It was one of the best "team" performances against "elite" opposition I've seen. We weren't causing them problems before the red card but playing well enough as a team to stop them from causing us problems. After the red card, we didn't go all "headless chicken", panic, lose shape, try to force a goal and give them a chance to nick one and waste whatever time was left. The Good Lady observed our support didn't get "uptight and panicky" because we weren't battering them. The crowd stayed with the team waiting, maybe expecting but not demanding a goal : )
Then after a real "groaner" from Semenyo, was that our chance? Kepa gives them a "proper real chance" ( as rated by table's xg against, against elite teams). But (surely we're all dreaming) we score a magnificent set piece goal, not only that, it was scored by RYAN CHRISTIE. I hope when I wake up in the morning this actually happened : )
I can't believe the penalty went to VAR, it, (like the alleged Christie goal) was right in front of us and didn't need investigating : )
A thoroughly satisfying night, we play an undefeated super-elite-club, two big VAR decisions, the best team wins and that team was US, The Super flucking Cherries : )
As a usually non-grudge bearing individual it was super sweet to see Benny White turned inside out by Dango then Sinni. I remember that sickening feeling when they scored that last-second winner and his "celebrations". On the other hand, now we've got Andoni's proactive tactics as opposed to GON's underactive tactics : )
Got a cheery "Hello Table" from Corfe Red and the ubiquitous KBG as they queued for their pre-match pat-downs. Those 'wurst sausages are tasty. Good to see there's an accessible outside bar, outside the East Stand. The DC Lounge was busy, we've got some great disabled supporters, good to see someone in there brave enough to defy the Pizza Police and have the "Topping of the Gods" pineapple and ham : )
Football eh, we were better than Leicester = no points, better than Arsenal = 3 points. 8 games in and we've got a neutral goal difference, has that happened to us before in the Prem' ? : )
Cherry Bear is LOVING that Bournemouth win! pic.twitter.com/xTiKXGeoWN
- Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 19, 2024
billythekid I had to watch the game on Sky after doing something to my foot while walking along Highcliffe clifftop this afternoon, my foot swelled up and is hard to walk on it. Sat writing this with ice pack on foot.
First of all our side inflicted Arsenal's first defeat this season and deserved to win and it was our first clean sheet.
Semenyo had one of those games when he shot it went high over the top of the goal. His best chance was in the second half when he had time to steady himself then shoot, but he took it quickly and it flew over the top. Normally he might have buried his shot into the back of the net.
Then again our manager made good substitutions bringing on fresh legs against 10 men Arsenal and two of them were involved in a brilliantly worked free kick.
Ball was played from the corner low to Kluivert one of the subs, and he neatly passed back to another sub Christie who made no mistake and blasted it into the back of the net, great goal and very pleased for Ryan who has worked so hard for this team and gone close in previous games.
The second goal came from the penalty spot when Evanilson had the ball in the area and was blocked by Raya and brought down. Kluivert calmly put the ball in the net with Raya diving the wrong way.
Evanilson was involved in the first half as he was about to chase a misplaced back pass from Trossard, but was brought down and stopped a goal-scoring opportunity by Saliba who was shown a yellow card but after VAR intervention went to the monitor and changed the yellow card to red.
Howard Webb was in the stands sat next to Jim Frevola.
Cherries up to 10th tonight.
Overall I thought the ref had a good game. - To join the conversation, click here.