Reiss Nelson proved to be the hero for Arsenal as they came back from behind to secure a 2-1 victory against Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup at the Vitality Stadium on 27th October 2020. The talented youngster scored a last-gasp winner in the dying minutes of the match to rescue his team’s chances of progressing to the next round of the tournament.
Arsenal had made several changes to their starting lineup with the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Emile Smith Rowe, and Dani Ceballos being given the nod. However, things did not go according to plan for the Gunners as they found themselves trailing behind in the 16th minute when Bournemouth’s Dan Gosling capitalised on some sloppy defending from the visitors to put his team in front.
Bournemouth, who currently lie in 6th position in the Championship table, had come into the match with high hopes of putting up a strong performance against the struggling Premier League outfit. The Cherries had already knocked out Crystal Palace on penalties in the previous round and were looking to cause another upset against Mikel Arteta’s side.
Arsenal, on the other hand, had a lot to prove after a disappointing start to the season which had seen them languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table. The Carabao Cup represented a chance for the Gunners to get some momentum going and build some confidence for the challenges ahead.
Although Arsenal had made a slow start to the match, they gradually grew into the game and began to create some good chances of their own. The introduction of Nicolas Pepe at half-time injected some much-needed energy into the Arsenal attack and the Ivorian winger nearly got his team back into the game with a superb curling effort that crashed against the post.
Despite Arsenal’s dominance in the second half, it looked like the Cherries were going to hold on for a famous victory until the 82nd minute when Eddie Nketiah produced a smart finish to level the scores. It was a well-deserved goal for the young striker who had been lively throughout the second half and had come close to scoring on a few occasions.
The game looked set to head into extra time but Arsenal, who had been piling on the pressure, had one final trick up their sleeve. Reiss Nelson, who had come on as a substitute for Emile Smith Rowe, showed great composure to slot the ball past the Bournemouth goalkeeper from close range after a neat cutback from Kieran Tierney.
Nelson’s winner sparked wild celebrations from the Arsenal players and fans alike. For a team that had been struggling to find the net in recent games, it was a welcome relief to see some goals being scored. The victory also provided some much-needed confidence for the Gunners who have been going through a rough patch in the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta, who was delighted with his team’s performance, hailed the impact of Nelson and Nketiah after the match. “They showed great character and desire to get back into the game. It was a difficult game but we showed our quality in the end. Reiss and Eddie were fantastic and showed why they are such important players for us.”
The victory also provided some respite for Arsenal’s under-fire manager who has faced criticism for his team’s poor performances this season. Arteta had won the Carabao Cup as a player with Arsenal in 2014 and will be hoping to repeat that feat as a manager this season.
In conclusion, Arsenal’s comeback victory against Bournemouth was a much-needed boost for the team who have been struggling for form in the Premier League. Reiss Nelson’s last-gasp winner was a fitting end to a thrilling match and provided a glimpse of the young talent that Arsenal possess. With the Carabao Cup offering a realistic chance of silverware, the Gunners will be hoping to build on this victory and put in some strong performances in the coming weeks.