Our 3️⃣ points as Arsenal do enough to down Bournemouth | OneFootball

Arsenal maintained their Premier League title bid with a belated win over Bournemouth.

Here is what we made of Saturday’s early game at the Emirates Stadium.

Gunners hold firm on run-in

For a while, it looked like it might be another of ‘those’ days for Arsenal’s latest Premier League title quest.

Just shy of 12 months ago, they ultimately wilted under the pressure of keeping pace with the Manchester City juggernaut.

When Mikel Arteta’s side peppered Mark Travers’ goal with 13 shots in the opening half-hour to little avail, the omens didn’t look promising.

But they eventually broke Bournemouth’s resolve with a comprehensive dismantling that keeps them hot on City’s heels during the run-in.

It could still all prove in vain if the reigning champions win their remaining four games but the Gunners holding their nerve gives them a fighting chance.

Iraola continuing to win admirers

A three-goal dismantling for the hosts illustrated the gulf in standards between top spot and tenth in the Premier League.

Yet Bournemouth’s stubbornness until shortly before the half-time interval is a testament to their progress under Andoni Iraola.

The former defender’s reputation no longer precedes him after making the South Coast outfit hard to beat across this campaign.

As things stand, the Cherries are on course for a top-half finish; a feat achieved just once with Eddie Howe at the end of 2016/17,

Since weathering an early-season storm, Iraola has won over an army of admirers and that continued despite the humbling at the Emirates.

The best goal you never saw?

The Premier League might need to consider opening up a rival category to their Goal of the Season award after this game.

Because Gabriel’s wonder-strike late into the game would almost certainly top the list for the best disallowed goal so far.

Forget the accusation that the Brazilian ‘shinned’ his long-range effort, it nestled beautifully into the top right-hand corner of Travers’ net.

Unfortunately for Gabriel, his moment of glory was denied by an offside ruling in the build-up after he was teed up by Kai Havertz.

Rules are rules but the defender definitely takes the crown for the finest strike you never saw given in the current top flight.