A lethargic Arsenal were outclassed by the visiting Cherries, who started brightly and scored through teenager Eli Junior Kroupi after 17 minutes.
The Gunners responded through Viktor Gyokeres’ penalty, but failed to go up the gears as Andoni Iraola’s perfectly executed game plan ensured they dominated at the Emirates, convincingly and without fear.
Rewarded for this, they scored their second to retake the lead in the second half when Alex Scott picked up the ball in plenty of space and slotted comfortably into the left corner.
Bournemouth earned their longest unbeaten run in the Premier League, while the hosts showed signs of their grip on the title loosening, again.
Here are four things we learnt from Arsenal’s loss to Bournemouth:
Arsenal stumbled through caution, but they may escape unscathed
Bournemouth were the antithesis to the tentative display by Mikel Arteta’s men amidst a home support full of trepidation.
Arsenal, at this stage of the season, are notorious for faltering. An undesirable defect on their charge to Premier League titles, to say the least.
Accusations of buckling under the pressure will swirl, just as much as the critics questioning Mikel Arteta’s risk-averse and overly-measured approach.
The Arsenal boss is unlikely to abandon that, even if he insists he is not married to the pragmatism in plain sight.
Arsenal are failing to put together the inspiring and attacking performances fans are crying out for. The caveat is that they have led the Premier League for most of the season.
Their caution has been exposed for all to see and ridicule at this final hurdle in their latest defeat, but that calculated trait is the very reason they have not been knocked off their perch.
Manchester City travel to Stamford Bridge on Sunday in one of their two games in hand with a nine point gap to close. They also welcome their title rivals to the Etihad Stadium next Sunday. If it wasn’t already billed as a title decider, it certainly is now.
It should not be panic stations just yet, although Arteta’s measured approach can’t afford to devolve into serious unease. At home, the fanbase felt this and the players looked lost.
Bournemouth outwitting the Gunners and why the aimless build-up needs to be resolved
Iraola’s side deserved to walk away from the Emirates with the full spoils and made their opponents look bereft of ways to break them down. Arsenal amassed three shots on target, with one of those being Gyokeres’ penalty.
The four man front line forming when David Raya received the ball resembled Manchester City’s approach in the Carabao Cup final defeat. Not charging at them with an intimidating press, but simply holding a shape, tempting a long ball.
The persistent distribution out from the back set the tone, when the long option seemed suitable. They would have conceded possession in far less dangerous areas and avoided inviting the Cherries to exploit their vulnerabilities, evidenced in Bournemouth's second goal.
This has not come out of the blue, and Arsenal have played this type of possession in deeper or unthreatening areas before and still they have come away with fruitful results.
A very simple tweak from opponents has caused a lot of issues for them in two particular games.
Their ball retention to run down the clock and see out victories is justified, but when conceding goals is the looming punishment or in games decided by one-goal margins, it is glaring - they should not persist for so long.
Should the onus be on the players to recognise this and adapt with greater courage? Or, is Arteta the main culprit?
Ride the momentum, why neglect it?
Arsenal have gone behind in 12 matches this season and won just three of those matches. They didn’t entirely rally to draw themselves level on Saturday lunchtime, and were fortuitously awarded a penalty.
This was dispatched by Gyokeres impressively, and then Arsenal were expected to gain a foothold. Yet, the momentum and control swung the other way, almost entirely.
The lack of dynamism and urgency to advance upfield spoiled any motivation to leverage the momentum inevitably built from scoring a goal.
In the driving seat to win the Premier League title, that does not necessarily have to constitute rapid and electric attacks to leave them vulnerable to transition.
Instead, when they score a goal, the search for another to put games to bed and assuage the pressure, often palpable at the Emirates, is something this Arsenal side have just six league games left to potentially implement.
Arteta’s straight swaps with an early triple change in the second half, bringing on Eberechi Eze, Max Dowman, and Leandro Trossard potentially suggested he was demanding more energy and enthusiasm. Even that didn’t materialise.
Should Gabriel Jesus be recognised more?
Returning to fitness in December last year after a lengthy injury layoff, Jesus has been reduced to a peripheral figure with Gyokeres earning his keep in the eyes of Arteta to lead the line.
The Swedish striker netted his 18th goal of the season across all competitions with his spot kick, and he offered an outlet by running into channels, remaining physical with the Bournemouth defenders.
His striking colleague, Jesus, was substituted on with a 20-minute cameo to salvage a draw. He got himself into promising areas in the box to unlock the opposition.
The competition for the striker role has waned; however, we are all unaware of the judgements made on the Brazilian on the training pitch.
Jesus can pose a contrasting challenge compared to Gyokeres. There is relevance in considering his involvement in the run-in, aside from the plethora of problems that may cause Arsenal to limp to the finish line.