EPL – What We Learned – AFC Bournemouth 0 Arsenal 2

EPL – What We Learned – AFC Bournemouth 0 Arsenal 2

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Quick fire goals from Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ensured Arsenal recorded a morale boosting 2-0 victory over Bournemouth on Sunday, returning to the winners circle after going four games without a victory. 

There was early controversy inside 10 minutes when Matheiu Flamini was lucky to escape a red card for his two-footed challenge on Dan Gosling. Cherries boss Eddie Howe was incensed with the decision, but the replays show Flamini got the ball first, which ultimately saved the Frenchman from being dismissed.

After enduring a lull period in recent weeks, Ozil rediscovered his attacking mojo when he opened the scoring on 23 minutes, volleying home from close range after Olivier Giroud’s knock down found the German unmarked inside the six-yard box.

In the blink of an eye the Gunners doubled their lead with Oxlade-Chamberlain recording his first goal for the season, when his shot ricocheted off the post to give the visitors an unassailable lead going into the halftime interval.

Despite the two goal deficit the home side refused to go into their shells and created some decent opportunities in the second-half, only for Petr Cech to continue his stellar season by making some terrific saves, highlighted by a fine double save in injury time to ensure a 12th clean sheet this term.

Arsenal saw the game out to get their once stuttering title tilt back on track, while Bournemouth can take heart from their spirited display, but were ultimately outclassed in the end by a polished Gunners outfit.


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Arsenal put an end to scoring drought

Finally, after 347 frustrating, wasteful minutes, the Gunners were able to rejoice in celebration after finding the net through Ozil to put their barren run in front of goal to a grinding halt.

Creating chances has not been a problem for Arsenal this season, having carved out a basket full of opportunities in their stalemate against Southampton at the Emirates, with Ozil in particular at the forefront, creating 10 himself.

Inexplicably, that ruthlessness in front of goal has been severely lacking in recent times and it seemed to spread among the squad like a contagious virus. Today’s convincing victory was crucial in terms of gaining momentum ahead of next Sunday’s title showdown against high-flyers Leicester City.

Ozil loves playing Bournemouth

The Cherries will be happy to see the end of the World Cup winner after putting in another dazzling display full of craft and imagination, which is exactly what the home side lacked throughout.

Ozil had not scored or assisted since the two team’s last played back in late December, but the 27-year-old came back to torment last year’s championship winners by netting his sixth goal of the campaign and his second against the club from the South Coast.

One piece of skill where he bamboozled defender Adam Smith epitomised Ozil’s performance and set the tone for what was to be another sublime outing from the playmaker.

With Aaron Ramsey finding form, Oxlade-Chamberlain rediscovering his scoring touch and Alexis Sanchez back to full fitness, Arsenal’s attacking outlet’s look reinvigorated, which bodes well with some pivotal matches on the horizon.

Flamini continues to be a liability in midfield

Bournemouth should feel aggrieved that referee Kevin Friend did not give the Frenchman his marching orders after a crude two-footed challenge, which could of changed the whole complexion of the match.

It could of also further jeopardised Arsenal’s title chances, and while he has been serviceable in deputising in the holding-midfield role, the return of Francis Coquelin cannot come quick enough as Arsene Wenger continues to ease him back slowly following his knee injury.

After being given the benefit of the doubt, Flamini continued to lunge into tackles unnecessarily, despite skating on thin ice following receiving a yellow card for his earlier rash challenge.

With some crunch games coming up, Flamini is a disaster waiting to happen, and his ill-discipline could potentially come back to haunt the Gunners. Coquelin must to be re-called to the starting lineup against Leicester at his expense.

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Benik Afobe fails in his attempts to haunt his former employers

The scene was set for former Arsenal player Afobe to pile further misery on the club who failed to give him a single senior appearance after spending 15 years in North London, coming through the youth ranks alongside Gunners midfielder Jack Wilshere.

Coming into the match brimming with confidence on the back of scoring three in his past three matches, Afobe was chomping at the bit to prove to Wenger that he is good enough at Premier League level after claiming in Bournemouth’s match day program to have not been given a “fair chance” by the Arsenal manager, frequently being farmed out on loan to a host of Championship clubs.

It was not to be for the the 22-year-old though, who was well contained by Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel, and he often found himself isolated and without the supporting cast to provide him with the adequate service.

Afobe was substituted on 76 minutes to a warm applause from both sets of fans and chants of “Gooner” were heard from the away section as the striker endured a difficult afternoon, but remains highly respected by the Gunners faithful for the the classy manner he conducted himself in when exiting the club.

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