AFC BOURNEMOUTH condemned ten-man Arsenal to their first defeat of the season thanks to two second half goals from substitutes Ryan Christie and Justin Kluivert.

The early stages were an arm-wrestle with few chances, but the game was changed as William Saliba saw red on the half-hour mark, after a challenge on Evanilson, who would have been through on goal.

While the Cherries were unable to find the breakthrough in the first period, the hosts were on top and opened the scoring through Christie after 70 minutes.

The Scot finished well from a Lewis Cook corner, before Evanilson won a penalty not long after as he attempted to round keeper David Raya, with Kluivert coolly converting from the spot.

The Cherries saw the game out and took a big three points, moving up to tenth in the Premier League, with their first clean sheet of the season.

Andoni Iraola made three changes from the starting 11 that lost to Leicester City before the international break.

(Image: Richard Crease) Julian Araujo, Dango Ouattara and Alex Scott came in in place of Adam Smith, Justin Kluivert and Ryan Christie, with that trio dropping to the bench.

Mikel Arteta’s side were without Bukayo Saka, who was forced to pull out of the England squad in the break, but the Gunners’ lineup featured fellow England star Declan Rice and Chelsea loanee Raheem Sterling.

The visitors got the game underway and it was an even opening 15 minutes, with no clear cut chances falling to either side.

It was Antoine Semenyo for the hosts who had the first effort on goal, after David Raya’s pass out from the back was intercepted by Scott and he laid off to the Ghanaian, but his shot was over the bar.

With the game an arm wrestle, the visitors were reduced to ten men after half an hour as Saliba dragged down Evanilson as he chased a ball over the top.

Referee Robert Jones initially gave a yellow card, but he was sent to the monitor by VAR Jarred Gillett and overturned his decision, giving Saliba his marching orders.

(Image: Richard Crease) Bournemouth, boosted by the decision, got on top, with Semenyo getting a shot off, blocked by Gabriel Magalhaes for a corner.

The Ghanaian had another effort saved behind by David Raya three minutes later, after Arsenal’s Mikel Merino saw a shot go wide up the other end.

Sterling was brought off for Jakub Kiwior as the Cherries aimed to make their spell on top pay.

They went close on shortly after the 40-minute mark.

Semenyo did well on the left to drive towards the byline, his ball across the box was spilled by Raya and it fell to Tavernier, whose effort was well saved by the Spaniard.

Thomas Partey volleyed over in stoppage time, but the sides went in at the interval at 0-0, with Araujo replaced by Adam Smith at the break.

The hosts had a good early chance to take the lead in the second period, but Semenyo could only shoot over the bar after good work by Ouattara on the left.

The Cherries continued to press and saw a half chance headed past the post by Tavernier, before he, Ouattara and Scott were replaced by Justin Kluivert, Luis Sinisterra and Ryan Christie with 62 minutes played.

(Image: Richard Crease) Leandro Trossard was replaced by Gabriel Martinelli, before Kepa made a big save to keep it at 0-0.

It was the Spaniard’s mistake, as he passed straight to Mikel Merino, who found Martinelli, but Kepa saved well.

The Cherries took the lead shortly after, as a corner from Cook was flicked on by Kluivert and smashed home by Christie, for his first goal in the league since October 2022 after 70 minutes.

The lead was doubled nine minutes later, as Evanilson latched onto a soft back pass from Kiwior and was brought down by keeper Raya as he attempted to go round him, with referee Jones pointing to the spot.

It was Kluivert who converted, sending the Spaniard the wrong way and side footing home into the bottom right corner.

(Image: Richard Crease) Kiwior and Merino were replaced by Gabriel Jesus and Ethan Nwaneri not long after, before Evanilson was applauded off, replaced by Enes Unal.

Despite some late pressure from Arsenal as they aimed to get a goal back, Cherries held firm to secure a fantastic three points, their first victory over their visitors since 2018. 

This result saw the Cherries move up to tenth, leapfrogging Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and Brentford.