London: Martin Odegaard urged everyone associated with Arsenal to stick together after they warmed up for Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League semi-final showdown at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) with a home defeat by Bournemouth. Captain Odegaard set up Declan Rice to mark his 100th fixture for the club with a goal after 34 minutes, but Andoni Iraola’s Cherries fought back after the break to earn a first win at the Emirates and complete a league double over the Gunners.

According to Oman News Agency, successive losses left Arsenal full of “rage, anger and frustration” according to boss Mikel Arteta. Odegaard insisted they must use those emotions to overturn a one-goal deficit in midweek at the Parc des Princes in order to keep alive their aspirations of winning a maiden Champions League title.

Arteta’s decision to make only two changes for the visit of Bournemouth raised eyebrows, but was maybe as a result of Manchester City’s victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday, which closed the gap to the second-plac
ed Gunners to three points. Two wins from Arsenal’s final three fixtures will secure Champions League qualification, but with a trip to Liverpool followed by top-five rivals Newcastle United coming to the Emirates on 18 May 2025, there is work to be done.

Bournemouth threatened either side of Rice’s opener, but were more clinical after the break and equalised in the 67th-minute when Dean Huijsen headed in a long throw by substitute Antoine Semenyo. Another replacement helped produce the winner as Alex Scott – brought on alongside Semenyo – picked out Marcus Tavernier from a corner and Evanilson bundled in at the back post. VAR reviewed the incident for handball but the goal was awarded and provided a sense of vindication for Evanilson after his red card against Manchester United last Sunday was rescinded.