London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Jul 15, 2025

Nelson keeps Arsenal on course in title race with late winner

Nelson keeps Arsenal on course in title race with late winner

Arsenal survived a massive scare in their pursuit of the Premier League title as they hit back from two goals down - the first one hit within 10 seconds of the start - to beat Bournemouth 3-2 with a last-gasp winner from Reiss Nelson in a rip-roaring contest in north London on Saturday.
With referee Chris Kavanagh poised to blow the final whistle in the seventh minute of stoppage time a corner was cleared out to Nelson who took a touch before smashing home a left-footed shot to spark bedlam inside the Emirates Stadium.

"It was madness from the first second. We kept trying and dominating the game. We had a mountain to climb and we took it bit by bit," Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told the BBC.

"When it's ugly and when it's difficult, that's what big teams do. We have to make it easier for ourselves. But this is the Premier League. There is nothing like sharing those great moments with your people."

Manchester City's earlier 2-0 defeat of Newcastle United had ratcheted up the pressure on Arsenal, cutting their lead to two points, and when relegation-threatened Bournemouth's Philip Billing scored after nine seconds the hosts were stunned.

Timed at 9.11 seconds, Billing's close-range finish from an audacious attack straight from the kickoff was the second-quickest goal ever scored in the Premier League era.

Shane Long's effort 7.69 seconds after kickoff for Southampton against Watford in 2019 is the quickest.

Arsenal dominated possession and were denied by a combination of visiting keeper Neto and some last-ditch defending, although Bournemouth had their moments too with home keeper Aaron Ramsdale making a crucial save from Dango Ouattara who should have made it 2-0.

Bournemouth rode their luck, and their fans were in dreamland when Marcos Senesi rose unmarked to head in a second for his side just before the hour mark. It looked as though Arsenal's grip on top spot might just be coming loose.

Then began an Arsenal comeback that could prove pivotal in their hopes of winning the Premier League title for the first time since 2004.

Thomas Partey prodded a shot past Neto shortly after the hour mark, and eight minutes later substitute Ben White's volley crossed the line despite Neto's desperate dive.

Arsenal laid siege to the Bournemouth goal as the clock ticked down but it appeared the visitors had held on for a precious point in their own desperate fight against relegation.

But substitute Nelson supplied a dramatic sucker-punch to spark incredible celebrations on and off the pitch and re-establish Arsenal's five-point lead over City.

Arteta's side have 63 points from 26 games with City on 58. Bournemouth are in 19th place with 21 points.

It felt like one of those afternoons that defines title races, but Arteta offered a dose of realism.

"It's just another game, another three points," he said, although he might have had a tough time selling that line to the jubilant fans streaming out of the stadium afterwards.

It was hard on Bournemouth's players and boss Gary O'Neil. "We gave it our best and came up a few seconds short," he said.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Trump Slams Putin Over War Death Toll, Teases Major Russia Announcement
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
A 92-year-old woman, who felt she doesn't belong in a nursing home, escaped the death-camp by climbing a gate nearly 8 ft tall
French Journalist Acquitted in Controversial Case Involving Brigitte Macron
Elon Musk’s xAI Targets $200 Billion Valuation in New Fundraising Round
Kraft Heinz Considers Splitting Off Grocery Division Amid Strategic Review
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
EU Proposes New Tax on Large Companies to Boost Budget
Trump Imposes 35% Tariffs on Canadian Imports Amid Trade Tensions
Junior Doctors in the UK Prepare for Five-Day Strike Over Pay Disputes
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth to Avoid Self-Incrimination on President’s Medical Fitness
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
×