Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth: Goals from Kroupi & Scott dent Gunners' title hope

Arsenal concedes three consecutive losses across domestic competitions, while Bournemouth finally ends their run of draws.

Match Report:

Arsenal never got going in Saturday's early kick-off as they missed the chance to pull 12 points clear of title rivals Manchester City, who have two games in hand and are at home when the top two meet in a massive fixture next weekend.

Neither team had a shot until the 17th minute, when Bournemouth took the lead following a slick move. Ryan Christie's defence-splitting pass released Adrien Truffert, and after the left-back's centre deflected off William Saliba, Junior Kroupi pounced to steer home.

Mikel Arteta's team drew level through Viktor Gyokeres' 35th-minute penalty, awarded when Christie blocked Gabriel Magalhaes' shot with his arm, but they did not kick on from there.

Indeed, Gyokeres' penalty remained their only shot on target by the time the Swede finished one-v-one in the 65th minute, only for the flag to go up for a clear offside.

And Bournemouth's decisive goal arrived in the 74th minute, as Evanilson flicked David Brooks' pass into the path of Alex Scott, and the England World Cup hopeful advanced into the area before finishing into the roof of the net.

Gyokeres missed Arsenal's best chance to equalise for a second time, but Bournemouth were relatively comfortable throughout the closing stages as they climbed to ninth in the table. 

The Gunners are still nine points clear of Man City, but that gap could be cut when Pep Guardiola's side visit Chelsea on Sunday.

Data Debrief: Arsenal abject in attack as Iraola beats Arteta again

Arsenal appeared frozen by nerves throughout and of their 2.41 expected goals (xG), a mere 0.19 came from open play.

Only once have they recorded a lower figure in a home Premier League game, since Opta records began in 2021-22, against Crystal Palace in October 2025 (0.17).

After only suffering three defeats in their first 49 matches this season in all competitions (W37 D9), the Gunners have now lost three of their last four (W1), piling on the pressure ahead of a week that also sees the conclusion of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Sporting CP.

Bournemouth overperformed their 1.2 xG as Andoni Iraola registered his third Premier League win over Arteta, with only Guardiola (seven) and Jurgen Klopp (four) beating the Arsenal boss more often.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

0' The camera shows Eze on the substitutes' bench

12' Gyökeres couldn't connect with his teammates

16' GOAL! Bournemouth opens the scoring! Arsenal 0-1 Bournemouth (Junior Kroupi)

20' Havertz goes close with his header from a corner but it is inches over

26' Gabriel makes a decent save

33' Match Event for Arsenal vs Bournemouth

35' Gyokeres fires his penalty past Petrovic! Arsenal 1-1 Bournemouth

40' Great save from Raya!

54' Havertz, Martinelli, Madueke 🔛 Eze, Trossard, Dowman

56' Raya has been brilliant this season but god, no room for those antics

65' Gyokeres scores but offside first

69' Great shot from Rice

74' That Bournemouth second has been coming! Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth (Alex Scott)

79' Gyokeres can't catch the chance

87' Rice's shot stopped by defender

90' Match Event for Arsenal vs Bournemouth

95' Match Event for Arsenal vs Bournemouth

Line-ups

Arsenal XI: David Raya, Rice, Viktor Gyökeres, Gabriel, Havertz, Ben White, Martín Zubimendi, Martinelli, Saliba, Madueke, Lewis-Skelly

Subs: Christian Nørgaard, Trossard, Kepa, Jesus, Eberechi Eze, Hincapie, Cristhian Mosquera, Max Dowman, Marli Salmon

Bournemouth XI: Ryan Christie, Marcus Tavernier, Marcos Senesi, Djordje Petrovic, Evanilson, James Hill, Adrien Truffert, Alex Scott, Jimenez, Junior Kroupi, Rayan

Subs: Smith, E.Ünal, Brooks, Adams, Christos Mandas, Bafodé Diakité, Adli, Ben Gannon-Doak, Alex Tóth