Giroud earns Arsenal a point after thrilling comebacka

Updated: 2017-01-04 10:42

(chinadaily.com.cn/Agencies)

Olivier Giroud (Right) of Arsenal celebrates after scoring a goal in the match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal of FA Premier League in UK on Jan 3, 2017. [Photo/IC]

Had Arsenal started the game the way they finished it the outcome would have been different and Wenger's side would have turned up the heat on Chelsea by moving third.

They were casual though and were punished by Eddie Howe's tenacious Bournemouth team.

The marking was non-existent in the 16th minute when Junior Stanislas picked out Daniels with a raking pass and he stepped inside Hector Bellerin's half-hearted tackle to beat Petr Cech.

Worse was to follow four minutes later when Bournemouth broke and Fraser burst into the area before being levered to the ground by the back-tracking Granit Xhaka for a clear penalty.

Wilson's spot kick was not cleanly struck and straight down the middle but Cech had dived the other way.

There was more urgency about Arsenal in the second half but they found themselves 3-0 down when Fraser got away with a shove on Bellerin before cutting in to shoot through Cech's legs.

Bournemouth's fans chanted "we want four" but half an hour later they were desperately checking their watches as Arsenal almost snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

"The key moment was that first goal for them, the game changed after that," Howe, who took over eight years ago when Bournemouth were in the fourth tier, said.

"It should have been safe at 3-0. But I think we were harshly treated with the red card."