Bournemouth 3 - 3 Arsenal

I'm starting this in the first half with the Gunners two goals down, and deservedly so.  After 15 minutes, Iwobi failed to track back on left back Charlie Davis, who was all alone in a lot of space.  Bellerin had followed hid winger way inside and couldn't get over effectively, and Davis did really well to finish expertly and beat Cech.  Four minutes later, it was Xhaka's turn to be stupid, pushing/tripping a Bournemouth player barely inside the box who was going nowhere.  PK, and Callum Wilson's scuffed roller beat Cech straight down the middle when the goalie dove to his left.  While Arsenal had plenty of possession, they didn't have a shot on goal in the first half.  Bournemouth really was a lot better.  The sorry display contained a few desperate yellow cards too.

Ozil is still sick, but Mustafi started; Coquelin went down with what looked like a hamstring injury after the goals were scored.  We just plain stank.  Yes, the Cherries played well, but at their best they shouldn't be bossing Arsenal all over the pitch the way they did.  This game is Exhibit A for why Arsenal is once again going to be scrambling to win a Champions' League place and nowhere near the championship conversation.  Time after time, we drop points because some players switch off and don't do their jobs.  Iwobi seems very coachable, but someone isn't coaching him properly.  Whenever I've seen him, he doesn't pay enough attention to his defensive duties.  Today, it cost us the opening goal.

Bournemouth continued to press and play aggressively as the second half began.  The Gunners should have eaten this up, but instead they looked very shaky.  Giroud had his ankle stepped on and looked hobbled for a while.  Bournemouth had it in the net again, but only because Wilson handballed it in; then they went 3-0 up after Ryan Fraser shoved Bellerin to the ground from behind--foul not called!--and then took the ball and stuck it between Cech's legs.  Ugh.  More Bournemouth dominance as they got a few corners.  Our guys were all over the place.  Kos taken off for Gabriel; no obvious injury.  In the 70th minute, Alexis heads it in at close range with our first shot on goal.  Lucas Perez volleyed magnificently to make it 3-2 five minutes later, as Bournemouth looked to bunker in.  Now it's the Cherries' turn to look shaky.  Credit to them though; they continue to play, and move it effectively.  They should have scored with ten minutes left but Gosling bottled the shot.  Francis was given a straight red for a silly lunge on Ramsey and he takes two minutes to leave the field.  Boruc yellow for time wasting.  Mustafi trying to play offense, incompetently.  Arsenal does pose a threat now, but not enough of one.  Last Cherry substitution is to take off their only striker.  The equalizer came from a Giroud header off a Xhaka assist.  Ten man Bournemouth on the offensive!  Cech makes a smart save.  The whistle was blown precisely at the end of the sixth minute of extra time, with Arsenal on offense; why wasn't there more time?

I suppose I should feel good about rescuing a point, but aside from taking heart at the willingness of our guys to fight to the last minute, I feel this was a game we should have won easily, and two points dropped.  Mental errors put us in a deep hole, and lack of urgency from some of our guys kept us there too long.  And we needed a sending-off to get the draw, and still allowed ten men to nearly win in extra time.

How can a man like Xhaka, with such a brilliant array of shots and passes at his command, be so terrible at corner kicks?  This is the second game in a row I've seen him screw up every single attempt.  This was not one of his better games.  Coquelin was fine before his injury.

Ox definitely helped himself with an energetic performance, and he got back on defense too.  Perez was also very good as a sub for Iwobi, who should have done better with the few chances he got and didn't seem to know his position.  Gabriel was fine.

Cech could have done better on that third goal for sure, but he was the busier of the keepers and made some fine saves.

Koscielny looked fine; I hope he isn't seriously hurt.  Mustafi did well, and made one fantastic recovery tackle that may have saved a goal.  Monreal looked a little off today but he wasn't the guy who got torched.  That would be Bellerin, who still isn't getting his crosses in and who was beaten badly on the first and third goals.  Yeah, he was fouled on the third, but he was first to the ball and should have dealt with it before getting barged into.

Ramsey had plenty of energy, but made a lot of bad decisions and had better improve if he's going to continue playing.  Alexis looked the brightest but as usual held on to the ball too long several times.  Giroud's holdup play was not up to his usual standards, but he had a goal and two assists.  He has to start!

Very, very annoying.