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Arsenal‘s preparations for their crucial Champions League semi-final clash against Paris Saint-Germain suffered a serious setback on Saturday, as they were stunned 2-1 by Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium. Despite taking a first-half lead, the Gunners were overpowered in the second half by a determined Bournemouth side, who boosted their own hopes of qualifying for European football next season with a historic win.
Mikel Arteta, aiming to build confidence ahead of Wednesday’s return leg in Paris, chose not to rest his key players. Arsenal trail 1-0 from the first leg and need a major performance to book their spot in the Champions League final. But any hopes of heading into that tie with momentum were dashed as Bournemouth mounted a spirited comeback.
Declan Rice had given the home side the lead in the 34th minute, marking his 100th Arsenal appearance in style. After rounding Bournemouth goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, Rice calmly slotted into the net to send the Emirates crowd into celebration. Arsenal appeared in control and looked likely to extend their advantage before the break.However, Bournemouth were never out of the contest. They had threatened earlier in the match, missing several good chances in the opening half, and came out with renewed intent after the interval.
Their breakthrough came in the 67th minute. A long throw-in from Antoine Semenyo caused confusion in the Arsenal box, and Dean Huijsen rose highest to head in the equaliser. The goal visibly rattled the hosts, who began to lose their grip on the match. Just eight minutes later, Bournemouth completed the turnaround. A corner into the box was not dealt with, and Evanilson managed to force the ball over the line after getting the better of Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard in a physical battle. It was a scrappy goal but a priceless one, securing Bournemouth’s first-ever win at the Emirates.
Arsenal pushed forward in the closing stages but failed to create any meaningful chances. Despite dominating possession, they could not register a single shot on target after conceding the second goal—an indictment of their attacking inefficiency on the day. The absence of a clinical striker was again evident, with missed opportunities and a lack of cutting edge in the final third proving costly.Set-pieces, typically a strength for Arteta’s side, became their undoing. Both of Bournemouth’s goals came from dead-ball situations—a long throw and a corner—and it marked the first time Arsenal had conceded two set-piece goals in a single match since December 2023.
The loss leaves Arsenal second in the Premier League, but with Manchester City now just three points behind and holding a game in hand, the title race has become even tighter. The Gunners have now dropped points in back-to-back league games at a crucial stage of the season.
Bournemouth stun Arsenal with dramatic comeback at the Emirates Stadium.
For Bournemouth, the win is massive. It lifts them to eighth in the table and keeps their European dreams alive. The Cherries have steadily improved under manager Andoni Iraola and showed both resilience and tactical awareness in their second-half display.
As for Arsenal, all eyes now turn to Wednesday night in Paris. With their Champions League aspirations hanging in the balance, Arteta’s team must regroup quickly and find the form needed to overturn the first-leg deficit. But this defeat, both in terms of result and performance, is far from ideal preparation.
Arsenal will need to rediscover their confidence and clinical edge if they hope to make history in Europe. For now, though, Bournemouth’s shock win serves as a warning—and a painful reminder that no match can be taken for granted.