
Reiss Nelson scored a stunning 97th-minute winner as Premier League leaders Arsenal came from two goals down to beat Bournemouth.
Bournemouth had taken the lead after just 9.11 seconds through Philip Billing, and went 2-0 up via a Marco Senesi header.
However Arsenal pulled level with goals by Thomas Partey and Ben White, before Nelson struck.
The winger, making his first appearance since 12 November, slammed in from 25 yards in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
Arsenal’s Premier League lead is restored to five points, after they had seemed certain to cede ground to Manchester City, winners over Newcastle in the early kick-off.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, remain in the relegation zone after threatening a major upset – and beginning at top speed.
Billing’s goal was the second-quickest in Premier League history – only Shane Long, who scored for Southampton after 7.69 seconds at Watford in April 2019, has netted faster.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Arsenal
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Ramsdale
- 18TomiyasuSubstituted forWhiteat 45′minutes
- 12Saliba
- 6Gabriel
- 35Zinchenko
- 8Ødegaard
- 5Partey
- 21Fábio VieiraSubstituted forXhakaat 84′minutes
- 7Saka
- 19TrossardSubstituted forSmith Roweat 22′minutesSubstituted forNelsonat 69′minutes
- 11Martinelli
Substitutes
- 3Tierney
- 4White
- 10Smith Rowe
- 15Kiwior
- 16Holding
- 20Jorginho
- 24Nelson
- 30Turner
- 34Xhaka
Bournemouth
Formation 5-4-1
- 13NetoBooked at 64mins
- 15A Smith
- 6MephamBooked at 86mins
- 3Stephens
- 25Senesi
- 33ZemuraSubstituted forFredericksat 64′minutes
- 11OuattaraSubstituted forChristieat 82′minutes
- 14RothwellSubstituted forL Cookat 70′minutes
- 29Billing
- 24SemenyoSubstituted forAnthonyat 64′minutes
- 9Solanke
Substitutes
- 1Travers
- 2Fredericks
- 4L Cook
- 10Christie
- 12Randolph
- 17Stacey
- 21Moore
- 32Anthony
- 41Pollock
- Referee:
- Chris Kavanagh
- Attendance:
- 60,222
Live Text
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Second Half ends, Arsenal 3, Bournemouth 2.
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Goal! Arsenal 3, Bournemouth 2. Reiss Nelson (Arsenal) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner following a corner.
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Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Philip Billing.
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Attempt blocked. Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by William Saliba.
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Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Ryan Christie (Bournemouth).
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Attempt saved. Reiss Nelson (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Oleksandr Zinchenko.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Adam Smith (Bournemouth).
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Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Ryan Fredericks.
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Foul by Reiss Nelson (Arsenal).
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Adam Smith (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Oleksandr Zinchenko following a corner.
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Attempt blocked. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ben White.
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Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Ryan Fredericks.
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Chris Mepham (Bournemouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Chris Mepham (Bournemouth).
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Substitution, Arsenal. Granit Xhaka replaces Fábio Vieira.
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Attempt missed. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Gabriel Martinelli.
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Arsenal
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Squad number4Player nameWhite
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Squad number10Player nameSmith Rowe
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Squad number24Player nameNelson
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Squad number34Player nameXhaka
AFC Bournemouth
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Squad number13Player nameNeto
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Squad number15Player nameA Smith
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Squad number6Player nameMepham
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Squad number3Player nameStephens
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Squad number25Player nameSenesi
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Squad number33Player nameZemura
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Squad number11Player nameOuattara
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Squad number14Player nameRothwell
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Squad number29Player nameBilling
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Squad number24Player nameSemenyo
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Squad number9Player nameSolanke
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Squad number2Player nameFredericks
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Squad number4Player nameL Cook
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Squad number10Player nameChristie
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Squad number32Player nameAnthony
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