In a shocking turn of events, Arsenal suffered a 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Gunners took the lead through Declan Rice’s well-taken goal, but Bournemouth’s resilience and set-piece expertise proved to be their downfall.
*Rice Marks 100th Appearance with Goal*
Declan Rice marked his 100th Arsenal appearance with a clinical finish, rounding the keeper after Martin Odegaard’s through-ball. However, the lead didn’t last long after the break, as Bournemouth capitalized on Arsenal’s defensive vulnerabilities from set-pieces.
*Bournemouth Equalize and Take Lead*
Dean Huijsen headed in from a long throw, expertly delivered by Antoine Semenyo, to bring Bournemouth level. Just eight minutes later, Evanilson bundled the ball over the line from a corner, flicked on by Marcus Tavernier, to give the Cherries the lead.
*Arteta Frustrated with Defensive Performance*
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed frustration over his team’s defensive performance, particularly from set-pieces. “We’ve lost points here to Palace, Fulham, and Brentford – it’s something we need to improve,” he said. Arteta also questioned the VAR decision on Evanilson’s goal, stating that it “looks different to the decision”.
*Focus Shifts to Champions League Semi-Final*
Despite the disappointment, Arteta urged his team to channel their frustration into a strong performance against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-final. The tie is delicately poised after PSG’s 1-0 win in the first leg, and Arsenal will look to bounce back from this defeat and make a strong impression in the second leg.
The Gunners will face PSG on Wednesday, with a chance to redeem themselves and make a deep run in the Champions League
