Title fight's Gunner go to the wire

ARSENAL'S Premier League title hopes were dented by a home defeat to Bournemouth.

- PATRICK AUSTEN-HARDY

Victory against Andoni Iraola’s men would have propelled the Gunners into a 12-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, albeit with Pep Guardiola’s side holding two games in hand.

Bournemouth arrived at the Emirates Stadium with the league's longest unbeaten streak. And the last team to beat them domestically was in fact, Arsenal, who won 3-2 on the South Coast back in January.

Just as they did at the Vitality Stadium, Iraola's side took the lead to silence the home fans.

Ben White and Noni Madueke both lost the run of Adrien Truffert, whose low cross ricocheted off the boot of William Saliba and looped to the lurking Junior Kroupi, who lashed home.

As those in blue celebrated, Madueke and White argued over who should have picked up the marauding Truffert, while Mikel Arteta did his best to rouse the already frantic home fans.