Arsenal's south coast showing proves their mettle and demonstrates title credentials

A sticky situation on the south coast awaited Arsene Wenger's side but they came through to keep themselves squarely among the title contenders 

  Going the distance: Ozil is shining as Arsenal stick fingers up to their critics

So they do have the bottle to go the distance after all.
With Leicester top, Spurs second and Arsenal's title bid normally over by now, this fixture had the whiff of an upset about it.

Understandably so, with Arsenal arriving for their first-ever game at Bournemouth with just one away win in six and without a goal in over five hours.

The resurgent Cherries had been victorious in two of their previous three - Gunners reject Benik Afobe scoring in each of them. The stage looked set for yet another Arsenal setback.

Step forward Mesut Ozil, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Petr Cech. In fact, the entire Arsenal team deserves credit for showing here that this is the season in which they are ready to stand up and be counted.

A defeat to fall eight points behind with 13 games to play would have shattered morale and left the Gunners with a mountain to climb.


A relieved Arsene Wenger admitted afterwards that his men had sent out a message with this result. Past heartbreaks have led many with a Gunners persuasion to fear another season of frustration and underachievement.

This was a display to underline the fact that this side are in it for the long haul. A performance to stick two fingers up at the critics convinced that the old failings will cost them.

They were fortunate. No doubt. Mathieu Flamini should have been sent off for his attempt at a tackle on Dan Gosling just eight minutes in. Referee Kevin Friend was weak in showing yellow.

 

Lucky: Flamini jumped in two-footed on Dan Gosling

But Wenger described his men as "fighters" for the right reasons afterwards and rightly so. Interestingly the Frenchman also took every opportunity he could to keep describing Leicester as favourites in the post-match press conference.

The truth is that the pressure was - and still is - on Arsenal. They have far more resources and far more experience, albeit ill-fated, of competing for the title.

It appears finally to be standing them in good stead because they played with purpose from the outset. Then they were gone in 88 seconds.

Ozil lashed the ball in from close range in the 23rd minute for his first goal since he scored in the reverse fixture on December 28.

Rex

Bang on cue: Mesut Ozil slams home the opener

Bournemouth were still trying to reorganise when Steve Cook cleared weakly out to Aaron Ramsey, the
Welshman diverted the ball out to Oxlade-Chamberlain and the former Southampton midfielder sent a low drive in off the post.

Bournemouth rallied strongly but could never quite get Afobe, clearly aching to make his own point against his former boss, into any kind of position to strike.

Other Cherries players did force Cech to provide the kind of experience and quality in goal that will be invaluable over the coming months.

First the former Chelsea keeper arched his back brilliantly to tip Harry Arter's curler over the bar.

Then Cech closed out former Spurs youngster Adam Smith who had ghosted into space behind Nacho Monreal and looked certain to score.

As Bournemouth displayed their trademark resilience deep into the second half, Cech was on hand once again to save with his feet from Cook at close range and from Arter immediately afterwards.


It was yet another outstanding display to preserve the points and to restore belief in the red half of north London that this could yet be their year.

When Arsenal beat Bournemouth back in December, they went top of the table, consolidating that win with victory over Newcastle.

Since then they have lost form and confidence and have tumbled down to third. This outing to the south coast will have done them the power of good.

Rampant Leicester will roll into town next weekend intent on testing their fragile confidence, of course. But on this evidence Arsenal will have the answers.