Arsenal faced Bournemouth in a vital Premier League clash as the Gunners look to secure Champions League football for next season.
Jurrien Timber missed the game and was replaced by Ben White at right back whilst Thomas Partey replaced Mikel Merino in midfield from the Champions League clash with PSG.
Bournemouth should have opened the scoring when Evanilson headed over from six yards out unmarked before the Gunners got the breakthrough with an excellent goal from Declan Rice.
Arsenal are interested in Dean Huijsen and the Spanish defender equalised for the Cherries before Evanilson bundled home a winner from another set piece.
Mikel Arteta’s side are now firmly dragged back into a battle for a top five finish and need to address their worrying domestic form.
READ MORE: Declan Rice shines but one star gets a 4/10 – Arsenal player ratings vs Bournemouth
Arsenal threw away yet another lead to succumb to a rare home defeat, here are the winners and losers from Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth.
Two winners from Arsenal’s clash with Bournemouth
Declan Rice
Remember when it was thought that Rice was brought to Arsenal to sit in front of the back four? He has propelled his game to new levels in recent months and gets better and better each week.
Back in his number eight role, Rice took advantage of his attacking freedom and was the Gunners main threat. He had two chances before he eventually scored his opening goal.
Rice was played through by Martin Odegaard and rounded Kepa Arrizabalaga with ease to slot home the opening goal and set Arsenal on their way. Outstanding performance.
Martin Odegaard
Odegaard was criticised by Arsenal fans for his display against PSG and was also slammed by the French media.
He would be the first to admit he has struggled to hit his usual heights this season but he showed glimpses against the Cherries that he still has what it takes to be the Gunners most creative force.
A wonderful reverse pass set up Rice for the opening goal and Arsenal fans will now be hoping their skipper can take this confidence and impact into the second leg in Paris.
Three losers from Arsenal’s clash with Bournemouth
David Raya
David Raya has looked really nervy with the ball at his feet in recent weeks and his troubles continued against Bournemouth.
The Gunners goalkeeper was let off on a number of occasions playing out from the back, one instance in particular involving Odegaard in the first half could have resulted in a calamitous goal for the visitors.
The winner for Bournemouth was contentious as the ball appeared to strike Evanilson’s elbow however Raya himself will be disappointed with his role in the goal as the ball squirmed into the net.
Bukayo Saka
Bukayo Saka is so often Arsenal’s hero and saviour however, he was shackled for the second consecutive game by a brilliant defensive performance from Milos Kerkez.
The Hale End star managed to fashion one chance for himself in the second half, cutting in from the opposite flank only to curl wide with his right foot when he should have hit the target.
It would have made the game 2-0 and probably secured three points before the Cherries fought back and Saka lost his man Marcus Tavernier from the corner for the winning goal.
Fans will understand that he is still working his way back from his hamstring injury but will be hoping that he can muster the inspiration to produce the goods once again in the coming weeks.
Mikel Arteta
Arteta went strong knowing that the job to secure Champions League football next season is not done yet and the plan backfired.
His side are now embroiled in a real battle for a top five finish and require four points from their remaining three fixtures to guarantee a spot.
Preparation for a make or break tie in Paris could not have gone worse for Arteta, who now has to rally his side for a big finish to the season both in Europe and domestically.
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