TWO goals in eight minutes left Arsenal stars stunned as they lost to Bournemouth in the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta opted to play a strong side despite the vital second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain just days away.
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The hosts had escaped a couple of close calls before taking the lead in the first half.
Declan Rice finished off a neat move after being played through on goal by Martin Odegaard.
The England midfielder was able to round Kepa Arrizabalaga before firing home.
However, the Gunners’ hard work was undone by a long throw-in during the second period.
The ball was thrown into the box with purpose and headed into the far post by Cherries star Dean Huijsen.
The visitors made the most of their momentum as Evanilson was able to smuggle the ball into the net past a flailing David Raya.
The goal was allowed to stand as an in-depth VAR review could not say conclusively that there was a handball from the forward.
Despite changes to the team from the bench, the Gunners fell short as they succumbed to their second defeat in a row.
Here’s how SunSport’s Jordan Davies rated the Gunners from the Emirates.
David Raya – 5
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Spent most of the first half twiddling his thumbs only to give Odegaard a horrible pass that Evanilson gobbled up and almost chipped the Arsenal No.1 with.
Raya has been making a habit of this recently, including being caught out by Mateta’s stunning attempt last month. Worrying for one with a fine reputation as a sweeper keeper.
He had no chance with the leveller, but should not have let the ball dribble over his line off his foot from Evanilson’s effort.
Ben White 85′ – 5
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Not a great start – nut-megged by Ouattara inside the opening two minutes.
There were some bright sparks – his link-up with Saka down the right never fails to cause chaos, chipping brilliantly for Rice at the far post that was well defended.
Yet he does not look his normal self, hardly surprising given how much time he has spent in the medical room. Has the look of a player desperate for a nice, relaxing summer.
William Saliba – 8
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When Arsenal are not at their best, there is always one man you can count on.
Made a stunning last-ditch on Outtara to deny a certain goal just after the half-hour mark and then deflected Kluivert’s curler onto the roof of the net before timing a tackle brilliantly with Semenyo clear in the second half.
Also played his part in Rice’s opener, a cute flick around the corner to start the attack.
Jakub Kiwior – 6
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Really impressed with his range of passing in recent weeks and today no different, lofting over the top for Martinelli that almost produced a one-v-one.
However, he is still suspect defensively, slipping in the box to allow Evanilson a free header that the Brazilian should have converted.
Myles Lewis-Skelly – 7
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What more can you say about this kid? Looks like he belongs at this level, but definitely misses having Gabriel next to him for protection instead of Kiwior.
Was close to Huijsen from the long-throw before Bournemouth’s leveller but was always struggling to compete to head the ball clear with the height difference.
Moved into midfield in the closing stages with the score and time against them.
Martin Odegaard – 7
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Rather quiet and subdued to begin with. Had he been listening to the critics? Not a chance.
A player of this quality never loses it, and the timing of his pass to put in Rice was inch-perfect.
That’s now three assists in his last four games in all competitions – not bad for a player supposedly in a rut?
But the footballing gods are never kind, and he was caught scrambling to defend Evanilson at a corner and watched it bobble over the line.
Thomas Partey – 6
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One of those games. Some good, some bad, with several passes going astray.
Missed a tackle on Outtara that allowed Bournemouth to counter, but his presence that was greatly missed against PSG was much-needed, allowing Rice and Odegaard to bomb forward.
Declan Rice 74′ –
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Was practically a second No.10 in the early stages. Drove into the box from a Martinelli flick but dragged wide, then volleyed an awkward one with a similar result.
Could have then headed in at the far post, but he finally got his reward with a cool finish rounding Kepa from a superb Odegaard pass.
Just his third Prem strike this term, but eighth in all competitions, surpassing last season’s tally, and all on his 100th appearance for the Gunners.
Bukayo Saka 85′ – 6
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Was kept quiet by Kerkez in the first half, perhaps saving his energy, and he certainly exploded out of the blocks in the second half, seeing a header saved by Kepa and then whipping one just past the far post.
Yet after that, he struggled to get into the game.
Leandro Trossard – 6
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Lively and weaving, wanting to win a place in that PSG starting XI, but often looks lost as a No.9, dropping too deep or too wide leaving the team without a focal point.
When he stayed central, he got chances, seeing a clever header saved on the line by Kepa.
Gabriel Martinelli 85′ – 6
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Effective as a creator, teeing up Rice twice, but fluffed his side’s best chance of the first half with a bobbled shot just inside the box.
But again, when Arsenal needed something extra – especially when the scores were at 1-1 – he did not have the answer.
Subs:
Mikel Merino 74′ – 6
One of his first acts was running back to the half-way line after Bournemouth made it 2-1. From there, it was all a bit desperate and last-gasp.
Ethan Nwaneri 85′ – N/A
Oleksandr Zinchenko 85′ – N/A
Raheem Sterling 85′ – N/A
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