Arsenal got two first half goals and then saw out a spirited second half from Bournemouth to end the recent run without a win. The points were vital today and we now prepare for Leicester with renewed confidence and a better looking league table. But it was not the dominant performance and heavy scoreline that it could have been had we kept our foot on the gas after the two goals.
It was clear from the start of this must win Premier eague game that Arsenal were a team suffering a little bit with a loss of confidnce and a lack of goals. After an early chance created by Chamberlain, we saw a mix up at the other end with Ramsey and Gabriel nearly letting Bournemouth in.
Then we had a bit of fortune for a change, when referee Kevin Friend decided to show Flamini a yellow card for a two footed tackle when it could have been red. If anyone deserves a bit of leniency from the officials, though, it is Arsenal. We then saw 15 minutes or so that was very tight, with the home side pressing high and hard and the GFunners struggling to get our fluency and incisive passing going.
But we did get the early goal that we needed to settle the nerves after 23 minutes. Ozil nearly took the back of the net off from close range after Alexis Sanchez headed down a lofted pass from Ramsey. The change is our confidence lkevels was instant and the Ox made it two minutes later with a fine finish into the corner angled in from the right, assisted by Ramsey.
The nerves might have been back in force if Cech had not been alert just before the break when Monreal lost his man but the game was going to plan. After the restart, however, Arsenal fans were very glad that Cech had come to the rescue because the Cherries had the better of things.
For the first 10 minutes or so it was all Bournemouth and we just could not get out of our own half. Arsenal did improve and make a few chances but the shape of the second half was us defending against a hard working team that seemed to have more desire.
When Wenger brought on Coquelin for the Ox and then Gibbs for Alexis it was clear that he was determined to hold what we had and after the recent run that is understandable but it would have been better for momentum if we had carried on from the first half and scored more.
Beat Leicester next weekend, however, and we are bang in the title race again.