Reiss Nelson’s last-minute match-winner in Arsenal’s unbelievable 3-2 comeback victory over Bournemouth could be one of the defining moments of the 2022-23 title race.
Arsenal were feeling the pressure after title rivals Manchester City won earlier in the afternoon to close the gap to just two points.
And it looked as though the league leaders were set to drop vital points at home to relegation-scrapping Bournemouth. Arsenal conceded after just nine seconds and went two goals behind, but they showed the mentality of champions to battle back.
Thomas Partey got Mikel Arteta’s Gunners back into the contest before substitutes Ben White and Reiss Nelson scored the second and third – with the match-winner coming with a sumptuous strike deep into injury time.
“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,” Arteta told BBC Sport in his post-match interview.
“We had the hunger to go for the first goal. From then the atmosphere changed. Reiss Nelson hasn’t featured much because he has been injured. He comes on and puts in that performance. It was incredible to experience the emotion with the crowd. It’s going to stick with us.
“I am going to remember this day for a few things. I loved the initiative, the courage, their personality and the way they made things happen.
“When its ugly and when its difficult, that’s what big teams do. We have to make it easier for ourselves. But this is the Premier League.
“The opponents are good and they make it hard for you. Now we have the Europa League – many games coming up. We’re going to need everyone at their best.”
Nelson has been a lesser-spotted member of Arsenal’s first team this season, but he has come up with some big contributions in his brief cameos this season to keep the Gunners in control in the race to be Premier League champions.
“When the ball came out to me I was thinking ‘please give me one chance’. I’m buzzing, really happy. I controlled it with my right foot and it came onto my left,” Nelson told BBC Sport.
“We need moments like this if we want to go all the way. We’re not looking at any other team at the minute. We are focusing on ourselves. We will keep going day-by-day, game-by-game. As an Arsenal fan, I’m just delighted with the result.”
Here are 15 of the best reactions to Nelson’s vital winner, from Arsenal legends like Ian Wright and Paul Merson to those taking it all in at the Emirates.
