Last Update: March 05, 2023, 09:34 IST
Arsenal registered a 3-2 win over Bournemouth (AP Photo)
Arsenal had not even touched the ball when Philip Billing gave bottom-of-the-table Bournemouth the lead after just 9.11 seconds with a clinical finish from inside the Gunners’ area.
Arsenal recovered from the second-fastest goal conceded in Premier League history as Reiss Nelson’s stoppage-time strike earned the Premier League leaders a thrilling 3-2 win over Bournemouth after Manchester City beat Newcastle 2-0 on Saturday defeated by
Mikel Arteta’s side were trailing by two goals with just over half an hour left.
But the Gunners showed they can handle the pressure of the title race with a remarkable comeback that saw them move five points clear of second-placed City.
“I’m incredibly happy. It was just crazy. It was a really special win and it took until the last second to get it,” Arteta said.
Arsenal had not even touched the ball when Philip Billing gave bottom-of-the-table Bournemouth the lead after just 9.11 seconds with a clinical finish from inside the Gunners’ area.
The fastest goal in Premier League history was scored by Shane Long after 7.69 seconds for Southampton against Watford in 2019.
Arsenal went further behind in the 57th minute as Marcos Senesi saved from Thomas Partey to see Aaron Ramsdale’s header in from a corner.
Partey made amends for his sluggish marking five minutes later when he reduced the deficit with a close-range finish from Emile Smith-Rowe’s header.
Underlining their desire to win a first title since 2004, Arsenal took the momentum and equalized in the 70th minute through Ben White’s powerful finish from Nelson’s cross.
Nelson completed Arsenal’s incredible revival in the seventh minute of stoppage time when the substitute produced a stunning finish from 20 yards to spark scenes of wild celebration around the Emirates Stadium.
“He never gave up. We want to stay there (at the top) for as long as possible,” Arteta said.
Earlier on Saturday, City recorded a 2-0 win over Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium.
Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva scored for the champions, who were let off the hook by a series of spectacular misses from the visitors.
Sean Longstaff, Callum Wilson and Joelinton were all guilty that didn’t force Ederson to make a save as fifth-placed Newcastle took another blow to their hopes of a top-four finish.
City boss Pep Guardiola said, “It was an incredibly good result for us because it was a difficult game.”
– The potter gets a break –
Wesley Fofana eased the pressure on Chelsea boss Graham Potter as the French defender scored in a 1-0 win against Leeds at Stamford Bridge.
Fofana put Chelsea in front with his first league goal for the club seven minutes after half-time, heading home from former Leicester centre-back Ben Chilwell’s corner.
It was Chelsea’s first goal in 396 minutes and only his second goal in seven matches in all competitions.
The 10th-placed Blues managed just their third win in their last 16 matches in all competitions.
Ending a run of three consecutive losses will give Potter some breathing space ahead of Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie against Borussia Dortmund next week.
“We have suffered. It has been a challenging phase. We were a team that had something to lose so it was great character from the players. It gives us something to build on,” Potter said.
Fourth-placed Tottenham’s Champions League qualification hopes were dealt a blow with a 1-0 defeat at Wolves.
Just days after losing 1–0 to second-tier Sheffield United in the fifth round of the FA Cup, the north Londoners were beaten again as Adama Traoré scored in the 82nd minute after Raúl Jiménez’s effort was saved. The rebound is off the bar.
Southampton climbed off the bottom of the table with a 1–0 win against Leicester as Carlos Alcaraz scored a 35th-minute winner at St Mary’s.
Brighton kept West Ham from relegation trouble with a 4–0 win at the Amex Stadium.
Aston Villa beat Crystal Palace 1–0 at Villa Park, with Eagles defender Anderson scoring an own goal in the 27th minute, before Palace’s Cheek Doucure was sent off for two bookings in the second half.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)