Key events
90+2 min The corner is overhit, allowing Arsenal to get upfield.
90+1 min There will be eight extra minutes. Bournemouth get a free kick on the right, which leads to a corner on the left – their first of the day.
88 min The player of the match is Declan Rice, who settled the contest, and the crowd’s nerves, by getting the only assist.
88 min Arsenal couldn’t complain about that, unlike Bournemouth when they had the ball in the net.
Disallowed goal!
A scorcher from Gabriel with his left foot… or maybe his shin. But the flag is up, probably for Havertz.
85 min A second Arsenal sub: Jesus replaces Saka, who gets an even bigger ovation than Trossard.
84 min Bournemouth have some possession with managing a shot. When Arsenal win the ball back on their left, Havertz draws a foul from Adam Smith, who goes into the book.
83 min Martinelli instantly races into the area and thinks he’s won a penalty, but David Coote doesn’t agree and neither does the VAR.
81 min Havertz misses a sitter, hitting the bar – but he’s offside anyway. Trossard goes off, pursued by a fond ovation that he would not have had if he hadn’t finally scored.
80 min Iraola sends on Unal for Senesi. And I missed a sub of his a few minutes ago, sorry – Billing for Scott.
77 min Up the other end, Partey releases Saka, whose cutback looks like a gift for Odegaard … but he shoots into the side netting.
No, no goal
We’re in the netherworld of endless replays… but in the end, the decision is upheld. Iraola can’t believe it, and it does seem as if Bournemouth have a strong case. Solanke was penalised for allegedly fouling Raya, when he didn’t do much at all.
74 min Bournemouth hit the bar with one volley, then found the net with another – and they think there was a foul against them…
Bournemouth get the ball in the net!
… but the ref blows for a free kick to Arsenal.
72 min Arsenal’s goal difference is now 59. They’re nine up on Man City, and it still may not be enough.
71 min Rice, back to goal, got the assist with a lovely deft touch and Trossard, who could well have been subbed at half-time, finally found a decent finish, slotting the ball into the far corner.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Bournemouth (Trossard 71)
This is all about Declan Rice.
68 min The Bournemouth midfield, who had nothing to declare in the first half but their fouling ability, are now playing some masterly through balls. The latest one reaches Semenyo, who could do better than to have a cross blocked.
67 min Solanke, back in his own box, heads a corner clear. The shot count is now 20-6, so it’s been 5-4 to Bournemouth since half-time.
66 min Up the other end, the ball skims across the six-yard box with nobody to poke it home. Where’s Jesus when you need him?
65 min A great ball from Christie sets Kluivert free down the left, but he takes too long pondering his options and ends up having his shot blocked.
63 min The shot from Kluivert goes over the bar. Jorginho is warming up as Arsenal look to regain control.
62 min Free kick to Bournemouth near the D.
60 min The hour glass flips over with Bournemouth still playing a lot better than they were. Arsenal have responded with a few fouls – there’s been a yellow card for Partey for a rough tackle, and now Havertz has got one too, for an elbow in an aerial duel.
59 min Another shot for Bournemouth! From Kluivert, storming in from the left, well struck but wide.
57 min From the corner, Gabriel’s header goes wide of the near post. A moment later, Odegaard shoots way over the bar from a promising position.
57 min Normal service is resumed as Arsenal win a corner. We need a special camera on Ben White.
56 min Bournemouth are being more purposeful, and they’ve even edged the possession in this half, 55 to 45. When they get their final touch right, it’ll be game on.
55 min Half-chance for Saka! Well policed by Lewis Cook, who just manages to curl his right foot round Saka’s left and get the ball.
53 min Bournemouth have a shot! Their first for about 50 minutes. It falls to the right man, Solanke, but the angle is tight and his shot is straight at Raya.
52 min Arsenal dance around the edge of the box. The chance falls to Havertz, whose left-foot shot is not sharp enough.
49 min Chance for Saka! Rice wins the ball back high up and pokes it to Havertz, who slides it square to Saka. He has plenty of time but, for once, not enough composure, and his shot is easily saved by Travers. Saka remains on a mere 20 goals for the season.
48 min A bit better from Bournemouth, who get Semenyo foraging in from the right, but the attack soon peters out.
46 min Arsenal kick off and get forward right away.
It’s been a game of one side.
16 shots and 2.2 expected goals for Arsenal in the first 45 minutes.
They’ve not managed more than either of those in any first half in the Premier League this season!#ARSBOU pic.twitter.com/PwJlc7XYcn
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) May 4, 2024
“Havertz’ significant improvement has been a huge relief,” says Alex Whitney, “but there are two downsides to his game that still frustrate – his occasionally leaden feet, and his diving. This was not a penalty. Have to feel for Travers and Bournemouth.”
This email came in around the half-hour mark. “With many refs both Scott and Christie would have accumulated enough cards to be sent off by now,” wrote David Dein. “That studs-on-knee challenge should have been a red on its own; what the hell is VAR for if it’s not to protect from that kind of challenge?” Good question, and I have one for you: are you the David Dein?
HALF-TIME! Arsenal 1-0 Bournemouth
They should be 4-0 up, with all the chances they’ve had, but maybe Arsenal will take 1-0 after doing everything right except being clinical in front of goal. They have cut through Bournemouth’s midfield at will and had 16 of the 17 attempts on goal. They should still run away with this, but you never know.
45+4 min Iraola has been waving his arms, willing his team to get up the pitch. They respond with another of their half-minute spells of possession.
45+2 min We’re having four added minutes, which the crowd are using to do some triumphal singing.
45 min Saka kept calm and slotted the ball to his left, while Travers went the other way. Pressure? What pressure?
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Bournemouth (Saka 45, pen)
Saka steps up … and scores!
Penalty confirmed!
After a dozen replays, the VAR agrees with David Coote.
Penalty to Arsenal!
41 min Travers may have got it wrong this time, bringing Havertz down – though the keeper is insisting that Havertz dangled a foot out…
40 min Save! As Rice closes in on a teasing chip from Odegaard, Travers dives in and punches the ball away. He’s made of stern stuff.
39 min That brought the biggest oooh of the game so far, and there have been a few.
38 min Big miss! Rice has a golden chance from ten yards but the ball is spinning away from him and it goes wide.
37 min Havertz can’t sort his feet out at point-blank range, so the ball just hits him – but the flag goes up anyway, as White had gone too early.
35 min Saliba gets into a race with Justin Kluivert, who matches him for pace but then fouls him. Arsenal go a-probing again.
33 min Bournemouth finally string together some passes in the middle of the field.
31 min Arsenal are playing so imperiously that Bournemouth look like the team who were 19th in the autumn. But still, after half an hour, there’s no goal to show for it.
28 min Someone has dared Ryan Christie to see how many times he can foul Saka without going into the book. He’s now on three.
27 min Arsenal reassert themselves, probing on the edge of the box. The chance eventually falls to Partey, whose left-foot strike is not as surgical as it needs to be.