When they are winning games like this it is hard not to conclude that Arsenal will be Premier League champions. They were toiling at two goals down to Bournemouth and, even though they clawed back to parity admirably, leaving with a point would surely have tipped the title race in Manchester City’s favour. Then, with the final action of six minutes’ added time, the substitute Reiss Nelson ripped an 18-yard half-volley past a full-stretch Neto and Emirates Stadium erupted, the home bench piling onto the pitch in delirium. Philip Billing’s opener after 9.11 seconds, the second-fastest goal in Premier League history, could hardly have felt more distant.
Until such a climactic finish it seemed this game would primarily be remembered for its astonishing start. Goals have been scored within seconds of kick-off before but the ingenuity of this one had little precedent. Bournemouth lined up to begin the game with five players stationed to the left of the centre-circle; they were feinting as if to play a long diagonal that way but instead the ball was instantly clipped right, to an open Dango Ouattara, and Arsenal were in trouble. Outtara was able to advance towards the penalty area but his low cross should still have been cut out; instead it skidded under Gabriel Magalhães’ foot and Billing, anticipating the error, swept in from six yards.
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