NOS Football•today, 3:37 PM
Title candidate Arsenal has strengthened its leading position in the English Premier League by beating Bournemouth 3-0. Pursuer Manchester City can reduce the margin to one point later today.
Arsenal, which last won the championship in 2004, could have led 4-0 in the first half after a real rain of chances. The ‘Gunners’ fired no fewer than 16 shots on target, compared to one from Bournemouth.
It was thanks to goalkeeper Mark Travers that the score remained 0-0 for a long time. But the same Travers caused a penalty just before half time.
There was discussion about this, because Arsenal player Kai Havertz got caught on Travers’ outstretched leg. But the referee ruled after seeing the VAR images that it was a penalty, which Bukayo Saka used: 1-0.
Kluivert on a roll
Arsenal, where Jurriën Timber, who had recovered from a cruciate ligament injury, was not yet in the selection, also started attacking after the break. But Bournemouth didn’t give up. The most dangerous shot came from Justin Kluivert, which went just wide after fifteen minutes.
A little later he tried again from the direct free kick, but this attempt also missed the mark. Attempt three also failed, after a long sprint and a blocked shot.
Lucas Trossard made it 2-0 in the 70th minute. Shortly afterwards, Bournemouth seemed to score the tying goal, but the VAR had spotted a minor foul. Deep into injury time, Declan Rice made it 3-0.
