Arsenal have unsung hero inspiring title bid as Gunners pile on Man City pressure

Arsenal moved four points clear at the top of the Premier League after Bukayo Saka's penalty and Leandro Trossard's strike gave them a 3-0 win over Bournemouth.

The Gunners were utterly dominant before the break, with William Saliba, Declan Rice, and Saka himself all missing clear chances before in the 43rd minute, Kai Havertz was tripped by away keeper James Travers and the club top scorer did the rest from the spot. The Cherries came into it in the second half though, and it took a smart save from David Raya from Dominic Solanke's angled effort to keep the hosts in front - before Rice teed up Trossard to make the points safe. Rice himself fired home a low shot in injury time to round off matters.

Trossard takes centre stage again

The resurgence of Havertz has been lauded, but it's Trossard who has now been elevated from a useful squad player to a key first-team performer.

Like at Brighton, like against Bayern, like on numerous occasions in the latter stages of the season, the Belgian delivered today when his side needed him most, calming nerves with an expertly taken goal after being set-up by Rice. It was his 15th goal of the campaign, and only injury will now prevent Mikel Arteta from starting him in Arsenal's final two games.

The standing ovation he received as he made his way off late on was telling. If the Gunners do land this title, then the £20million plus deal negotiated to bring Trossard from the Amex in January 2023 should be viewed as a critical factor.

White's England waste

Before the north London derby last weekend, the narrative around Ben White had been dominated by his England fallout. Then it became about playing with Vicario’s gloves.

And yet, the actual form of the 26-year-old has gone largely unmentioned. Throughout the first half in particular, White again proved there are few better full backs in the Premier League more adept at timing a run to join an attack, twice expertly overlapping before creating chances in the area.

Trent Alexander-Arnold may boast more quality on the ball, and Kyle Walker is undoubtedly quicker. But White is now emerging as a player as useful in attack as he is adept at defending. His inevitable absence from Euro 2024 this summer, irrespective of whose to blame, is England’s loss.

Watch all the Premier League and Champions League drama unfold on TNT Sports.

Arteta’s striking warning

Arteta's team are the league's top scorers, and yet he will by now be sick of the argument that his side lack the clinical finished required to elevate them to the next level. Despite a 3-0 win, he’s about to get sicker of it yet.

At one point in the first-half, the hosts had commanded 96 per cent of possession in a five-minute period. They battered the Bournemouth goal as Trossard had two efforts blocked - Saliba, Saka, and Thomas Partey were denied by Travers - and Takehiro Tomiyasu and Declan Rice were off target from point blank range. The relentlessness of the pressure was matched only by the wastefulness of the finishing,

Finally, Saka calmed nerves from the spot but further chances went begging before the second goal went in. Forget the stats, deep down the Spaniard will know that you don’t get away with botching that many opportunities on a regular basis. Title or not, he must pursue a No.9 in the summer.

Solanke’s lonely shift

If today was a chance for Dominic Solanke to stake a claim for a place in England’s squad for Germany, he was given little chance to take it.

Midway through the first half, he bullied centre-back Gabriel off the ball before only Saliba’s outstretched leg denied him a clear run of goal. It would prove his only hint of a clear chance in the first period and notably, he had to create it himself.

In the second half, he did find space but his shot from tight angle couldn't beat Raya. Solanke’s season speaks for itself, but timing is everything and he’ll crave more service in his side’s final two games.

From one VAR extreme to the other

Somewhere in a parallel universe, they have struck the right balance when it comes to VAR.

Having put extra emphasis on the notion of ‘clear and obvious’ in a bid to stamp out unnecessary intervention, the PGMOL have seemingly created a different monster. And the challenge on Bukayo Saka from Ryan Christie that went unpunished early on today is a prime example.

Referee David Coote opted to only award a foul as Saka rolled around in genuine pain, before replays emphasised how Christie had gone in late, high, and with his studs showing. The intent and subsequent contact was about as clear and obvious as it comes and yet, there was no word from above in Coote’s ear over a potential red card.

From being in the spotlight for over-scrutinising decisions, we now have a scenario where VAR is neglecting blatant errors. For fans and players, the frustration and perplexity continues.