Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium restored their four-point advantage over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League standings.
After a period of Bournemouth pressure after the break, Leandro Trossard stroked home the Gunners’ second goal, capping an oppressive first half that saw Bukayo Saka put the team ahead from the penalty spot.
Then, after a goal by the visitors was controversially disallowed due to VAR upholding referee David Coote’s decision to punish Dominic Solanke for a foul on David Raya, Declan Rice added a third goal in stoppage time to ensure that the outcome was certain.
With their fourth straight win, Arsenal keeps up their title challenge and puts more pressure on Manchester City when they play Wolves.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta in his press conference:
“I thought it was probably the best first half we have played all season. We were unbelievable, everything flowing, super composed on the ball, really aggressive without the ball.
“We generated so many chances, we could have gone three, four, five [up] easily and we didn’t. We scored one.
“Credit to Bournemouth, they changed a few things and created some issues. The game became a little bit more open, something we wanted to avoid.
“Within that game, we resolved certain situations in the right way and we were very efficient in front of goal to score the goals and maintain another clean sheet.”
On Bournemouth’s disallowed goal and the late Ryan Christie tackle on Bukayo Saka in the first half which went unpunished: “The honest answer is I haven’t seen any of the incidents because I knew you were going to ask me.
“I did it on purpose. The analysts said do you want to watch it and I said no because then I can tell the truth!
“I haven’t seen them so I cannot comment or have an impression. The one on David [Raya], the foul [for the disallowed goal], I cannot see because it’s too far. The one on Bukayo, is it on purpose or not? I don’t know so difficult for me to judge.”
On whether he will watch Man City’s game against Wolves: “Yeah I will be there sitting with my kids and my family.”
On whether he will be wearing a Wolves shirt: “No, pyjamas. Comfy pyjamas.”
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola in his press conference:
“First of all, I think I would like to say that I think Arsenal deserved to win today.
“I think they were better than us, especially first half. I think they pushed us a lot, but I don’t think the game should have gone the way it has gone because the referee decisions, I don’t agree with the decisions.
“I don’t agree with the penalty one, but especially with the disallowed goal.
“But I want to repeat – I think they were better than us and I think they should have won the game.”
On VAR, he added: “I think we have to rethink it a little bit, if we lose five or six minutes checking every angle.
“Probably the thing is you cannot give a foul or it’s a very clear penalty (on Philip Billing).
“If you give this foul, it’s a much clearer penalty one metre in front of him. But probably, it’s not clear and obvious because there is contact.
“(Either) we give power to the VAR or we don’t lose the five, six minutes to check everything. I think we have to go one way or the other.”
On Sunday, May 12, Arsenal will play Manchester United to resume their title defence. On Sunday, May 19, they play Everton at home to close out the season.
On Saturday, May 11, Bournemouth plays their final home game of the season against Brentford. On May 19, the Cherries visit Chelsea to wrap out the season.
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