Winners
Reiss Nelson
This lad does not do quiet introductions does he? After scoring twice against Nottingham Forest and claiming hero status there, Reiss Nelson took things to a new level.
These are the moments that can change career paths. With mere months left on his contract, Nelson has again raised the question as to whether the club should give him another chance.
At the very minimum, he’s potentially etched his name into Arsenal's history and depending on how the season finishes it could prove to be the campaign’s most important goal.
READ MORE: Arsenal vs Bournemouth highlights: Reiss Nelson scores dramatic winner in title-defining victory
Ben White
Coming on at half-time Ben White looked a man on a mission on the touchline waiting to be given the green light to join his teammates. Yet few could have predicted a first Arsenal goal might be what would follow but that’s exactly what did.
Nelson was involved again, what a game he had, and the finish from White was as perfect as it could be. It just did enough to cross the line but most of all White showed the gap between him and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
The fans who stayed
I understand there are trains to catch, and errands to run but my goodness, if you’re a supporter who was in that ground and stayed until the end perhaps there is no greater winner than them. Streams of fans were making their way to the exits in added time as stewards encouraged them out the doors if they then tried to linger on the edge of the ground.
The Emirates made a noise that I’ve heard before but never at the level demonstrated last night. It reverberated through the crowd as if every person in the ground had become one.
An honour to be part of. What a regret to have left.
Losers
Leandro Trossard
The prognosis could be season-defining for Arsenal’s winter arrival. Leandro Trossard pulling up with a muscular problem is the biggest downer on the night.
Having looked like such a good addition in the centre-forward role, this has put even more pressure on Gabriel Jesus’ potential return. Eddie Nketiah is also injured with a return date not yet known.
Mikel Arteta has a striker problem. Whether Gabriel Martinelli is the man to fulfil it remains to be seen but the opportunity has most certainly arrived.
Emile Smith Rowe
He’s not ready. It’s as simple as that and the plan to throw him in after a quarter of the game was up certainly was not in Mikel Arteta’s thinking.
Even though he managed to head the ball back across the goal for the first Arsenal goal, being substituted off having come on will be a frustration for him.
It will be interesting to see how he responds in Lisbon this midweek. But not being able to complete the game perhaps is a concern he won’t be able to start on Thursday.
Takehiro Tomiyasu
Not great. I don’t like being overly critical of players but the Japanese international had a poor showing yesterday.
Takehiro Tomiyasu summed up his 45-plus minutes on the field with a complete miss kick of the ball under no pressure when the chance to cross was baying.
White produced a second-half display which categorically put to bed any discussion of who is best placed to start in the role. Tomiyasu will likely start on Thursday and will hope to put right the wrongs of an underwhelming performance.
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