Highlights & Reaction to Bournemouth v Arsenal

 

Highlights & Reaction to Bournemouth v Arsenal

After a well-contested 2-2 draw away to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, AFC Bournemouth welcomed Arsenal to Dean Court on Saturday, looking to end their now double-figure run of games without a victory.

Could the Cherries do this against the current Premier League leaders? A New Year’s gift early on raised hopes, but ultimately, the visitors had too much for the home side and ran out 3-2 winners.

AFC Bournemouth are now without a win in eleven games and, rather worryingly, have conceded 27 goals during this spell.

AFC Bournemouth could well have caused an upset with a late equaliser; however, rather controversially, referee Chris Kavanagh opted to blow the full-time whistle in the midst of an AFC Bournemouth attack…

…this being the same referee who, in March 2023, was quite happy to add on over a minute of additional time, enabling Arsenal to score a winner against the Cherries… consistency, consistency, consistency.

AFC Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola told Sky Sports…

“We played better than Arsenal in the first half. But Arsenal found a better way to win the game. It’s a sign we are not being efficient. Conceding three goals today is far too much.

“Probably it’s not Arsenal’s best game, but they find a way to win. The big teams, they find a way to win.

“We are a team that does very good things, but we are not solid at the back, When you are not solid at the back, it’s very difficult.”

Man of the Match against Arsenal

Hill

Hill

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Evanilson

Evanilson

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Jimenez

Jimenez

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Scott

Scott

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Kroupi

Kroupi

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Cook

Cook

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Someone else

Someone else

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Iraola reflects on tonight's defeat 🗣️

— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) January 3, 2026

Doofus

Good effort tonight, but no reward. Arsenal didn’t look particularly special and bringing on Saka, Trossard and Jesus felt flattering and scary in equal measure.

High point, apart from goals, was Señor Jimenez again. He ran himself into the ground and looked threatening every time he got the ball. He has come on so well. Top top player now.

thegazzyb

I really hope that the fans in the ground are giving Jiminez a lot of love.

What a player, and he is giving total commitment to the team in every minute of every game. He’s the sort of player who you want to stay for a long, long time, but realistically, you realise that he won’t.

We need to appreciate him for as long as we have him.

Absolutely love his attitude and the way he goes about playing for AFCB!

redharry

It’s long time since I have witnessed such fury at the end of a game towards the ref. He deserved all the stick he got. Can you imagine if we are 3-2 up at Arsenal, having been repeatedly warned about time wasting, that the ref would blow the whistle 10 seconds over time with Arsenal in an advanced attacking position? It would never happen. His whole performance was awful. How did we get 3 bookings? How did Rice not get a card for repeatedly and blatantly giving the ref dissent? It was a good performance from us, but the manner of the defeat leaves a bad taste.

billythekid

Also, if the ref hadn’t blown dead on 6 minutes of injury time with Semenyo ready to cross the ball into the box, who knows what might have happened.

Could Saka have moved any slower to take corners? Think the ref should have had a word or booked him.

We had more shots than Arsenal, with 15 against their 12, but they had two more on target with 5.

Also, that is the third game we have scored 2 goals against them in the last two seasons.

Johnny Comelately

Disappointing result, but gave them a game. Unbelievable end, ref must’ve had an Arsenal win on his Pools coupon.

might as well start Adli against Spurs as Semenyo really didn’t look interested. Senesi’s passing is still below par. Madjueke had the beating of Truffert to start with, but after the first goal, I thought Truffert handled him well, but he must be knackered after then, having to deal with Saka. Overall, the team played really well and had them worried enough to bring on the big(ger) guns.

A draw would have been a good result, but it was league leaders Arsenal with one of the top three squads in the PL and there was some disparity between the two benches, so no disgrace to lose by a goal and with a ref who obviously had an urgent appointment to attend. – To join the conversation, please click here.

I have been a writer and website administrator on the largest AFC Bournemouth fan website for almost 25 years. Previously on a now defunct fan network and since 2005 on vitalfootball.co.uk We 

Highlights & Reaction to Bournemouth v Arsenal

Could the Cherries do this against the current Premier League leaders? A New Year’s gift early on raised hopes, but ultimately, the visitors had too much for the home side and ran out 3-2 winners.

AFC Bournemouth are now without a win in eleven games and, rather worryingly, have conceded 27 goals during this spell.

AFC Bournemouth could well have caused an upset with a late equaliser; however, rather controversially, referee Chris Kavanagh opted to blow the full-time whistle in the midst of an AFC Bournemouth attack…

…this being the same referee who, in March 2023, was quite happy to add on over a minute of additional time, enabling Arsenal to score a winner against the Cherries… consistency, consistency, consistency.

AFC Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola told Sky Sports…

“We played better than Arsenal in the first half. But Arsenal found a better way to win the game. It’s a sign we are not being efficient. Conceding three goals today is far too much.

“Probably it’s not Arsenal’s best game, but they find a way to win. The big teams, they find a way to win.

“We are a team that does very good things, but we are not solid at the back, When you are not solid at the back, it’s very difficult.”

Man of the Match against Arsenal

Hill

Hill

Vote

Evanilson

Evanilson

Vote

Jimenez

Jimenez

Vote

Scott

Scott

Vote

Kroupi

Kroupi

Vote

Cook

Cook

Vote

Someone else

Someone else

Vote

Iraola reflects on tonight's defeat 🗣️

— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) January 3, 2026

Doofus

Good effort tonight, but no reward. Arsenal didn’t look particularly special and bringing on Saka, Trossard and Jesus felt flattering and scary in equal measure.

High point, apart from goals, was Señor Jimenez again. He ran himself into the ground and looked threatening every time he got the ball. He has come on so well. Top top player now.

thegazzyb

I really hope that the fans in the ground are giving Jiminez a lot of love.

What a player, and he is giving total commitment to the team in every minute of every game. He’s the sort of player who you want to stay for a long, long time, but realistically, you realise that he won’t.

We need to appreciate him for as long as we have him.

Absolutely love his attitude and the way he goes about playing for AFCB!

redharry

It’s long time since I have witnessed such fury at the end of a game towards the ref. He deserved all the stick he got. Can you imagine if we are 3-2 up at Arsenal, having been repeatedly warned about time wasting, that the ref would blow the whistle 10 seconds over time with Arsenal in an advanced attacking position? It would never happen. His whole performance was awful. How did we get 3 bookings? How did Rice not get a card for repeatedly and blatantly giving the ref dissent? It was a good performance from us, but the manner of the defeat leaves a bad taste.

billythekid

Also, if the ref hadn’t blown dead on 6 minutes of injury time with Semenyo ready to cross the ball into the box, who knows what might have happened.

Could Saka have moved any slower to take corners? Think the ref should have had a word or booked him.

We had more shots than Arsenal, with 15 against their 12, but they had two more on target with 5.

Also, that is the third game we have scored 2 goals against them in the last two seasons.

Johnny Comelately

Disappointing result, but gave them a game. Unbelievable end, ref must’ve had an Arsenal win on his Pools coupon.

might as well start Adli against Spurs as Semenyo really didn’t look interested. Senesi’s passing is still below par. Madjueke had the beating of Truffert to start with, but after the first goal, I thought Truffert handled him well, but he must be knackered after then, having to deal with Saka. Overall, the team played really well and had them worried enough to bring on the big(ger) guns.

A draw would have been a good result, but it was league leaders Arsenal with one of the top three squads in the PL and there was some disparity between the two benches, so no disgrace to lose by a goal and with a ref who obviously had an urgent appointment to attend. – To join the conversation, please click here.

Photo of DJ

DJ

I have been a writer and website administrator on the largest AFC Bournemouth fan website for almost 25 years. Previously on a now defunct fan network and since 2005 on vitalfootball.co.uk We have been nominated for various fan website awards down the years, however we have always been the bridesmaid…have been nominated for various fan website awards down the years, however we have always been the bridesmaid…