Arsenal’s woes at the Emirates Stadium continued with a 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth. Regardless of various other factors at work here, this defeat represents their third straight Premier League game without a home victory. Although the Gunners had a bright start, they were unable to maintain their momentum, allowing the visitors to take advantage of defensive miscues. This defeat continues to spark concern over the team’s recent collapse and overall competitiveness in MLS this season.
On a grey, wet London day, Arsenal wasted no time in taking control of the match. Declan Rice soon opened the scoring, heading home a very good free-kick delivery from Ødegaard. Bournemouth hit back almost immediately, Dean Huijsen equalizing with a header and Evanilson completing the turnaround just before halftime. Even with some encouraging personal displays, the overwhelming concerted display wasn’t adequate and sorely left Arsenal fans despondent.
Key Performances and Ratings
Declan Rice was by far Arsenal’s best player on the day and that reflected in his 8 out of 10 rating. He began to demonstrate his skills with the first goal, rounding off Kepa Arrizabalaga and scoring from an angle. In the opening half, it was Rice controlling the midfield, and they were all over the speed merchant Leal. He masterfully dictated the tempo of play all match while constantly helping defense and attack.
Martin Ødegaard was just as important at the other end, delivering an incisive assist for Rice’s eventual winner. His vision, passing, and creativity were key in producing chances as well, even if he endured some spills and bumps during the course of the match. For that effort, Ødegaard earned a 7/10 rating.
New signing Leandro Trossard appeared very versatile, drifting into channels to draw defenders out of position to open space for teammates. His assurance on the ball during counter attacks gave him a score of 6 out of 10. For most of the match, Gabriel Martinelli ran riot on the left wing, repeatedly leaving his defender, Julián Araujo, in the dust. His eye-popping dribbles almost always yielded dangerous crosses into the box. He too was rewarded with a rating of 6 out of 10.
Defensive Struggles
Arsenal’s defensive problems continued to plague them in the cup final. Ben White faced difficulties containing Bournemouth’s attacking threats, particularly with Milos Kerkez’s persistent runs down the channel. His inability, or unwillingness, to keep defensive discipline was a focal point for fears about Arsenal’s frail backline.
Jakub Kiwior showed his physical prowess as he battled fiercely with Evanilson. He was really left open-mouthed as the Bournemouth forward simply brushed him off the ball and pumped a looping header just over the bar. This inconsistency is what led to Kiwior earning a 6/10 rating.
Myles Lewis-Skelly positioned himself effectively during defensive phases, making crucial tackles to halt counter-attacks. His performance still earned a dismal rating of 6 out of 10. Yet despite the lack of individual errors, the general defensive cohesion is still out of sync, with Bournemouth finding space in behind to net twice.
Tactical Decisions and Late Substitutions
Mikel Arteta’s tactical decisions came under scrutiny as his substitutions were perceived as too late in the second half when Arsenal’s performance dipped significantly. To his credit, the manager has only been rated a weak thumbs down 5 out of 10 for his decisions. His decisions didn’t help him spark the energy of his team or flip the momentum of the game.
This was David Raya’s worst game yet in goal for the USMNT. His distribution was the most troubling part of his performance, as errant passes repeatedly placed pressure on his team. As such he deserves a pitifully low rating of 5 out of 10.
Arsenal’s moments of quality overshadowed those of Chelsea, as Gabriel Martinelli came close with a shot that required a phenomenal save from Kepa Arrizabalaga. They simply could not find the route back into the game. The Englishman’s side’s lack of focus and determination at key moments in games ended up being the difference against a very dogged Bournemouth team.
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